by HOLLY RODRIGUEZ

The Richmond School Board voted on Monday to finish its search process for a new superintendent by Sept. 1.

After a closed session, the board also voted to select Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates of Schaumburg, Ill., to conduct the national search to replace Superintendent Dana T. Bedden.

Dr. Bedden’s last day leading RPS is Friday. Thomas E. Kranz, the school district’s chief operating officer, will serve as interim superintendent beginning July 1.

The board, however, has not released details on his salary or terms of his new contract in the interim job.

The search firm is to provide candidates’ names to a search committee that will be selected by the School Board and composed of parents, teachers and education advocates in the community. The committee will be responsible for interviewing candidates, according to the board’s plan.

In addition, an ad hoc committee, composed of School Board members Felicia Cosby, 6th District; Jonathan Young, 4th District; Scott Barlow, 2nd District; and Cindy Menz-Erb, 3rd District, will serve as a liaison between the search committee and the School Board.

The ad hoc committee also is responsible for gathering community input to make recommendations to the board on which candidate should be chosen to lead RPS.