The Richland 1 Board of Commissioners said Jan. 7 it expects the district’s superintendent search to take about four to six months and outlined committee assignments for 2025, the board chair said at a called meeting.

Chairman Lomenick told the board that research firms will be asked to provide a question-and-answer session for the board and that the board will select a firm to guide the process. “Four to six months is the normal time frame,” Chairman Lomenick said, advising members to expect the most active phase of the search in the spring.

The chair announced committee assignments for 2025: Curriculum and Instruction (Commissioners Clyburn and Devine); Facilities and Finances (Commissioners Weston and Moore); Administration (Commissioners Hersey and Bishop). The chair also said he asked Commissioner Moore to serve as the board’s parliamentarian for 2025.

On oversight and audit policy, Lomenick said he will schedule the district’s internal auditor to present at the board retreat and at regular intervals, and asked members to consider whether to reinstitute an audit policy or form a robust audit committee. The item on contracts over $50,000 but under $250,000 was listed as information only; the chair said the board previously stopped voting on contracts under $250,000 and now receives a monthly spreadsheet describing those contracts.

Board members urged patience with the superintendent search process and encouraged community involvement in search-related public engagement. Commissioner Devine and Commissioner Bishop said the search will require significant board time and commitment. Commissioner Weston thanked the community for its patience and said the board will call on residents for input during the process.

The board set its next regularly scheduled meeting for Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Stevenson Administration Building.