Warren County School Board Approves Health Insurance Rates, Launches Superintendent Search Process

At a special meeting held Monday, July 7, the Warren County School Board approved the 2025–2026 health insurance rates and took its first formal steps in launching the search for a new superintendent. The evening began with a brief presentation by Personnel Director Rachel Drake and continued with an in-depth planning session led by consultants from McPherson & Jacobson, the firm hired to manage the superintendent recruitment process.

Health Insurance Rates Approved

Drake presented the finalized 2025–2026 health insurance rates, which include a 10.1% increase. The cost will be equally split between the school division and its employees. These rates were previously reviewed as part of the adopted budget during a June 25 meeting.

Open enrollment for the upcoming plan year will begin on August 1, giving employees time to make any needed adjustments. The board approved the proposed rates unanimously without discussion, signaling continued support for the current cost-sharing structure.

Superintendent Search Begins

Following the vote, the board turned its attention to the process of hiring a new superintendent. Dr. Ralph Ferrie, Jr., executive director for the eastern region of McPherson & Jacobson and a retired superintendent himself, led the session via Zoom. He was joined by colleagues Dr. Dana Bedden and Dr. Chris Lowder, both experienced former superintendents with extensive backgrounds in education leadership and school system operations.

The consulting team outlined a detailed hiring timeline, described methods for community input, and presented a draft of the position description based on priorities shared earlier by board members. Several edits were discussed in real-time, including updated references to “Warren County Public Schools” and minor corrections, such as changing “district” to “county” to reflect local terminology.

The board also emphasized the importance of showcasing Warren County’s location in the Shenandoah Valley and its proximity to Washington, D.C., as part of the recruitment effort. The final position profile will highlight the school division’s 11 schools, diverse student body of just over 5,000 (including Pre-K), and a strong focus on transparency, student achievement, and community engagement.

Leadership Qualities and Expectations

Board members contributed feedback on the draft leadership profile, refining key traits they hope to see in candidates. These included strong communication skills, financial responsibility, experience in classroom and administrative roles (especially as a principal), and the ability to build trust with all school stakeholders.

The board agreed that while holding a doctoral degree should be preferred, flexibility is necessary in order to attract outstanding candidates who may be close to completing their degree. Candidates will be required to hold or be eligible for a Virginia superintendent’s license.

A revised profile will be sent back to the board for final approval before posting, with a preferred start date of January 1, 2026, or earlier if possible.

Community Input Sessions Planned

The board also decided to hold in-person stakeholder meetings on August 18, with additional Zoom sessions to ensure wide participation. Consultants will meet with staff, teachers, students, families, and community members to gather input on what qualities and priorities matter most in the next school leader. An online survey will also be distributed in multiple languages, including English and Spanish.

Dr. Lowder emphasized the value of hearing directly from the school community, noting that patterns across groups, such as students and bus drivers identifying the same priority, can be powerful signals to guide the board’s decision-making.

Next Steps and Timeline

Applications for the position will open by mid-July and remain open until Thursday, September 4. After that, McPherson & Jacobson will conduct background checks, interviews, and screening before presenting top candidates to the board in early October. Finalist interviews are expected to be held later that month, with the goal of naming the new superintendent before winter break.

Throughout the meeting, board members expressed support for the proposed process and praised the consultants for helping keep the timeline on track. They also discussed plans for updating the district’s website to include a dedicated section for the superintendent search.

The meeting ended with a brief closed session for personnel matters related to the search. No further public discussion followed.