New law gives School Board more time to pick future superintendents
The next time the Arlington School Board goes looking for a superintendent of schools, it may have a little more time to complete the process.
Under state law, Virginia school boards have 180 days after a vacancy of the superintendent’s post occurs to fill the job. Under legislation signed recently by Gov. Northam, that time frame will increase to up to 300 days.
School boards that have not appointed a superintendent within 120 days of a vacancy will have to send a written report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, outlining efforts that have been taken to recruit for the position. Under the new legislation, patroned by Del. Paul Krizek (D-Alexandria) and passed without opposition in both houses, school boards at that point will be able to ask for up to an additional 180 days to find a candidate.
Arlington’s current superintendent, Patrick Murphy, was first appointed in 2009. Last year, he won a new contract on a 3-2 vote.
Krizek’s legislation does not impact other requirements related to the employment of superintendents; under state law, all contracts for superintendents expire on June 30, and contracts can run for no more than four years at a time.