Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden may be on his way out.

The Free Press has learned that he is competing for a higher paying superintendent’s job in a larger school

district outside of Virginia.

Should he be chosen and take the position, it would be a jolt to the School Board, which hired him just 14 months ago to turn around the city’s failing schools.

Dr. Bedden and the School Board currently are working to craft a new budget and are initiating academic improvement programs for many of the district’s schools, efforts that could be set back if he jumps ship.

So far, School Board members are keeping mum. However, the prospect that Dr. Bedden might leave appears to be the reason the board held an emergency closed-door meeting Wednesday night.

Dr. Bedden’s decision to seek another position apparently has less to do with his pay — which is $225,000 a year, with $22,500 in bonuses if he meets performance goals — and more to do with his contentious relationship with some members of the board who have been critical.

The Free Press also has learned that some of the new members of Dr. Bedden’s leadership team also are putting out feelers for other positions.