School Board reacts to retirement announcement

PALMYRA — When Fluvanna County Public Schools’ superintendent Dr. Tom Smith announced his retirement he didn’t forewarn those who will have to find a replacement, the Fluvanna County School Board.

“I was very shocked. I found it very unexpectedly, especially since his four-year contract had been renewed in the fall,” said Camilla Washington, Columbia District.

Tom Muir, Palmyra District, felt similar saying, “I wasn’t surprised he decided to go. I was surprised that it was revealed [Feb. 18] and the way it was revealed.”

After eight years at the helm of Fluvanna’s public schools, Smith will be retiring June 30. He informed the board of his decision during the last meeting while discussing next year’s budget.

“This is a way I can help [the budget deficit],” Smith concluded his announcement.

Every School Board Member was shocked at the announcement with no one having any intuition of the possibility it would happen so soon. A few were like Muir knowing it wasn’t a far off possibility, especially in recent electoral history.

“I think that the board has been completely different than what he is used to.” Chairwoman Barbara Gibbons, Rivanna District, continued, “Over the last two plus years the board has changed significantly and so his working environment has also changed significantly. I also think he is under a lot of stress.”

This past election the board lost three members, Shirley LeVines, RJ Searcy and Vivian Leech. LeVines was the only member that did not lose a seat by election.

The announcement also comes as the School Board Office has already skimmed $2.1 million from last year’s budget and is still short possibly as high as $3 million if funding cuts from the Board of Supervisors and the General Assembly go as deep as expected.

Smith’s salary, reported around $165,000, has come under fire especially after the Great Recession began. Gibbons estimates the salary might look smaller when the board starts searching for a new superintendent.

“We may potentially hire someone for less money and there is a very good possibility because we could hire someone with a lot less experience but you still have to go through a search process,” she said.

She also noted, a national search will cost money to bring candidates in for an interview, “If we decide we want to interview people from Texas, Wyoming and Illinois, it would come upon us to pay for those travel arrangements.

“We could end up with a hefty sum of money before we even hire anybody.”

Muir said, “We are going to have a hard time finding anybody better.”

The notion to find someone hasn’t been discussed by the board yet. Before they can start looking, they have to finish a budget for fiscal year 2011 for the Board of Supervisors by mid-March. After that, it could be wide open as to when and where a replacement will be found.

Smith was first an assistant superintendent for instruction and budgeting before taking his current post. There is no guarantee an internal hiring will occur again.

“I think it might be time for new blood,” Brian Phillips, Rivanna District, said.

Washington has some criteria in mind for the next hire, “I think you need to find someone who has good business knowledge and, the same point, I think they do need to be an educator.

“I think when they are in education they can bring something very relevant to the table because we are advocating for excellent education in Fluvanna.”

Muir hopes for a national search and maybe even hiring an interim superintendent that has potential to take the job full time.

All members mentioned they want to see an interim hired first so the board can take more time to select a new superintendent.

Doug Johnson, Cunningham District, said the School Board can use services provided by the Charlottesville based Virginia School Boards Association. He said, “They have resources to help school boards find superintendents. I expect we will utilize those services.”

Currently there are six openings in Virginia listed on the VSBA website. The closest in division size is Harrisonburg City but the district has over 500 more students than Fluvanna. All six openings have an anticipated start date of July 1.

After 22 years of employment with FCPS, Smith has left a mark especially on those who have known him a long time.

Gibbons has known Smith since her family moved to the county almost two decades ago. She said, “We have had many agreements and many disagreements. I have a huge amount of respect for him.

“I think he has always put the children and his staff first. I don’t think that’s been appreciated.”

Muir, the former longtime Fluvanna teacher, said, “Dr. Smith has been unfailingly professional. It has been much easier than I thought it was going to be because I was his employee [previously].”

Bertha Armstrong, Fork Union District, has been on the board over 11 years and has worked closely with Smith while she served as chairwoman. She said, “I pray that he will move on and have a good future. He will be missed, I will miss him.”

Just in case Smith doesn’t plan on staying retired, he can count on at least one recommendation from a current school board member.

“If he was applying for another job, I would certainly give him a recommendation,” Johnson said.

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Editor’s note: This is the second part of a three part look into Dr. Smith’s retirement announcement. For more, please visit: http://flucoblog.com/retirement

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