By Debbie Hall
The fact that the Patrick County School Board is seeking a firm to help with the search for a superintendent is not a new concept.
“School boards before us always did this,” Walter Scott said. He added that past boards primarily used the Virginia Association of School Superintendents or VASS.
Scott, who represents the Smith River District, and other board members will meet two or three times in the coming weeks to interview different firms before settling on one.
Brandon Simmons, chairman, said public input in the process will be solicited via a survey as well as other avenues.
“There will be plenty of opportunities for public involvement,” Simmons said, and explained a firm will vet potential superintendent candidates, conduct background checks and take other factors into account to “find the right fit.”
The firm also will conduct preliminary interviews to narrow the field of candidates down to between three and five, Simmons said. The school board then will use that slate of candidates to make a final decision and fill the position that will be vacated by Dr. William Sroufe on June 30.
Sroufe will take over the helm of the Colonial Heights school division on July 1.
In his resignation letter to the school board, Sroufe wrote that “through building on our strengths, supporting our challenges, and seeking innovative strategies to meet the future needs of our students, teachers and leaders, our team was able to rise as a shining star in the Commonwealth. … We have much about which we can be very proud.”
He cited instructional accomplishments such as excelling from 76 place to 19 in the state Standards of Learning (SOL) ranking; classified four out of seven schools in Virginia Department of Education school improvement to all schools accredited; joined a comprehensive instructional program with 30 other school divisions to provide networking opportunities and to streamline resources for teachers; decreased the drop-out rate from 19 to eight per year; provided learning opportunities for more than 200 teachers and 17 administrators; offered opportunities for flexible seating and innovative learning spaces for students; currently piloting online textbooks; implemented standards-based grading for grades K-2, online report cards and ParentPortal; having 17 seniors to graduate with an associate’s degree from Patrick Henry Community College and 10 juniors for the Class of 2019; declined the K-12 per pupil ratio from an average of 13 to 12 students; increased the number of K-12 teaching positions from 201 to 208.
Sroufe also listed a number of accomplishments in other areas, including technology, CTE, operations and adult education.
In closing, “I have made many lifelong friends and educators that have helped me grow during my tenure in Patrick County,” Sroufe wrote, and expressed gratitude to the school board, the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, county administration, the community, staff, parents and students.
Also at their meeting Thursday, the board:
Met in closed session to discuss the personnel report, Sroufe’s resignation, compulsory attendance, license revocation, school visitor, employment and legal matters.
The board will hold a work session starting at 6 p.m. on May 23 in the Central Office, Rucker Street in Stuart.
