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Deadline is looming for Richmond to choose superintendent

Posted at 10:14 PM, Dec 21, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-21 23:37:38-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - The deadline is slowly approaching for the Richmond school board to make a decision on who is going to be their next superintendent.

On Friday, candidate Anthony Jackson, a former Henrico County principal, sent an email to the board saying he was dropping out of the selection process because of personal and professional reasons.

Sources told CBS 6 that Jackson was the frontrunner for the job.

However, Richmond school board Vice President Donald Coleman said Jackson dropping out will not slow down their progress.

"The input from the public forum and our own observation in the public are probably going to be the key things that distinguish these final two gentlemen," Coleman said.

Dana Bedden, a former Irving, Texas superintendent, and Calvin Watts, an assistant superintendent for Gwinnett County Schools, are still in the running.

A school board member told CBS 6 that the public's response was more favorable toward Bedden.

The board is scheduled to meet Sunday afternoon behind closed doors to make their choice.  On Monday, they will hold a news conference to announce Richmond's new superintendent.