Warren County School Board hires superintendent search firm

Warren County School Board members (seated left to right) Kristin Pence, Ralph Rinaldi, James Wells, Interim Superintendent Melody Sheppard, and Board Chairman Arnold Williams Jr. during their January 15 meeting. Board Vice Chairwoman Catherine Bower arrived later. Photo by Kim Riley. Video by Mark Williams, Royal Examiner.

FRONT ROYAL—The Warren County School Board on January 15 approved an $11,000 contract award to Martinsville, Va.-based Real Synergy LLC for consulting services related to the board’s search for a new superintendent.

“I believe it’s the right people, at the right time, and it’s the right choice for us,” said School Board Chairman Arnold Williams Jr., who agreed with several board members that Real Synergy would prioritize public input into the superintendent search.

In fact, board member James Wells said that Real Synergy “will very much want to hear what the public has to say” about potential superintendent candidates, a strategy that board member Ralph Rinaldi called “necessary” considering Warren County’s current contentious political climate.

Board member Kristen Pence agreed, noting that Real Synergy “seems passionate and interested” in the task at hand.

Under its contract, Real Synergy will provide numerous services for the Warren County School Board, including:

• Interviewing stakeholders to help develop a superintendent profile;
• Developing a superintendent profile;
• Facilitating a public forum to develop a superintendent profile;
• Creating a superintendent application;
• Recruiting and screening individuals;
• Suggesting and developing the interview process, including sample questions;
• Reviewing applications, preliminary background checks on potential candidates, and initial verification of credentials;
• Developing stakeholder surveys; and
• Providing on-site services during all interviews of potential candidates, among other services.

The Real Synergy contract award doesn’t cover the costs of administrative assistant support, national publication or print media advertising, finalist background checks, candidate travel, School Board member travel to a finalist’s district, postage, and printing, according to the consulting agreement.

The company was chosen following the Warren County School Board’s October 25, 2019 Request for Proposals for Consulting Services for the Superintendent Search. The board on November 15, 2019 received nine proposals for the contract.

Chairman Williams said that School Board members on January 6 interviewed two of the firms that submitted proposals during a closed session, and then selected one firm for the contract.

The tentative superintendent search schedule released by the School Board and Real Synergy is:

• January 21 – February 4: Online Survey
• January 21 & 22: Interviews with stakeholders
• February 5: Public hearing by School Board
• February 6 or 8: Special-called School Board meeting; profile development with School Board; and approval of announcement and application
• February 10 – March 20: Receipt of applications
• April 4: Special-called School Board meeting; meet with School Board on applications; and develop interview questions
• April 17 & 18: First round interviews
• April: Second round Interviews
• April/May: Special-called School Board meeting and School Board announcement

Board members Williams, Pence, Rinaldi, and Wells voted to approve the Real Synergy contract. Board member Catherine Bower, vice chairwoman of the School Board, was late to attend Tuesday’s regular meeting and work session, so was unable to vote.

Watch the budget work session here in this exclusive Royal Examiner video:

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