RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- The Virginia Board of Education has denied a request from the Richmond School Board to extend the deadline for appointing the district's vacant superintendent position.
The school board had asked the Board of Education for a 30 day extension so that the public could be involved in the selection process and meet the final candidates.
However, Virginia Board of Education President David Foster said that state code mandates a strict time frame for all school districts -- and that the board does not have the authorization to extend the deadline.
"Please note that the Board of Education has developed a procedure for appointing a superintendent should a board fail to appoint a division superintendent within 180 days," Foster wrote.
If the school district fails to name a superintendent by the Dec. 27 deadline, the state education will appoint a superintendent.
The news comes after CBS 6 investigated why the public had not been asked to take part in the process of selecting a new superintendent. Following that story school board members announced that parents and community members would be able to help decide who will be the next school superintendent.
In fact, the school board announced earlier this week that three finalists would be named Monday. That would be followed by a community interview for the candidates Wednesday.
Previously board members said they were nixing a public comment period because of the looming two-week deadline.
Richmond School Board Chairman Jeff Bourne that the decision to exclude the community from the superintendent search was due to fears that too much input would hinder the selection process.
The Richmond School Board had 180 days from when Dr. Yvonne Brandon resigned to name her permanent replacement. As of Friday, the board has 13 days to name the next superintendent.
Stay with CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for updates on this developing story.
RELATED:
