Dr. Lorraine Lange won’t step down as the Roanoke County public schools superintendent until July 1 officially, but the School Board and an outside consultant have already started the process of looking for a successor.
Lange replaced Linda Weber more than 8 years ago, restoring calm and stability among educators and residents that did not take a liking to Weber. It helped that Lange had spent decades in the county school system, unlike Weber.
The Roanoke County School Board has invited the public to speak at two of their board meetings – one earlier this week and the next one on September 11, at the county school administration building on Cove Road.
Chairman Drew Barrineau said they want to know what qualities the public would like Lange’s successor to have. Residents can also take an online survey through September 12 on the county school website or Facebook page.
Barrineau, a long time school board member from the Windsor Hills District in Southwest Roanoke County, won’t add his own comments on what he would like to see in the next superintendent, but chances are it’s someone who possesses many of the same qualities as Lange.
“We hope to announce the new superintendent by December 31st but we’re not going to be hamstrung by the date,” said Barrineau, “we just want to make the right decision. That date will not dictate a decision by us.”
The Virginia School Board Association will help vet candidates and conduct the search with Roanoke County through their superintendent search process. The online survey is part of the VSBA’s process.
“The most important decision we make as a school board is the selection of a superintendent,” noted Barrineau, “and all of us want to make sure the community has a voice in the process.” The VSBA had already received more than 300 survey responses as of last week.
Barrineau won’t tip his hand on what he wants to see in a new superintendent but he does say that Lange, “was exactly what we were looking for when she came on [board] … a Godsend. If you’re selecting a superintendent you can do no better than her.”
Lange rose through the ranks as a teacher, assistant principal and principal before taking a central office position and then eventually succeeding Weber.
Spotted at a youth football game last weekend where her grandson was playing, Lange said part of the reason for calling it quits was the demand on her time outside of the normal work day – she often attended functions at night and on weekends when asked. It’s time to let someone else shoulder that load perhaps said Lange, who didn’t like to turn down invitations.
After gathering input over the next few weeks from public meetings and surveys, the school board will huddle and “try to hammer out the criteria.” The VSBA will use those standards to comb through candidate applications. The board will see all of the applications however.
“She came in at a very difficult time as well,” noted Barrineau of Lange, “and has really set a high standard. When she does walk out in the sun [after retiring] she will cast a large shadow. We will be fortunate to find someone half as good as Lorraine.”
By Gene Marrano
