The search to replace John Sanville as Unionville-Chadds Ford School District superintendent is on. U-CF School Board directors have sent out a press release saying advertising for the position was posted nationally and that there’s a deadline of April 7 for applications to be submitted.

Sanville announced his retirement in an email late in the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 31 to be effective July 31. The board hopes to have a replacement chosen by then for the start of the next school year which begins in August. Selection of the new superintendent could come as early as May.

In a follow-up email, board President Victoria Baratta said the timeline for hiring a new superintendent is “contingent on the applicants interested in the position and the successful candidate's current contract ‘hold’ terms. The priority is finding the right candidate, and the board will not rush the process. That said, we worked with the very experienced search team at the CCIU [Chester County Intermediate Unit] to develop the process, so I am confident in our timeline.”

As for the type of person the board is looking for, she said “The Board desires a transformative leader who embraces the district's values of educational excellence, superior school experience, people-centered culture, and principled stewardship. Candidates should be of high character with demonstrated leadership in strategic decision-making, consensus building, and people development and communicate with clarity, authenticity, and purpose.”

The school board’s email saying the search has begun also says the board will be engaging with the community to keep people informed about the process. The board will also ask for stakeholder input by holding virtual focus groups led by the Chester County Intermediate Unit, which is leading the search for Sanville’s replacement.

“We want to know your views, and we welcome dialogue about the future direction of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District. To encourage open and honest conversations, the Board and central administration will not be present during any of the focus group meetings,” the email said.

The community search focus group is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, from 7-8 p.m. Those interested should register here.

There is to be a “rigorous multi-stage interview process to assess each candidate's educational vision, leadership capabilities, and alignment with our district's strategic goals,” according to the board’s email, and the board is “deeply committed to transparency and collaboration throughout this critical process. We invite and welcome input from our entire UCFSD community as we seek an exceptional educational leader who will inspire our students, support our educators, and advance our district's mission of educational excellence.”

The district has also set up a webpage for the search process and a central location for updates. This will be “a fantastic resource for the community,” according to Baratta.

Sanville was promoted to superintendent in 2011 to replace Sharon Parker. He previously served as the district’s curriculum director for the middle and high schools and, before that, had been the principal at Marple Newtown High School.

Sanville has been under the microscope for the last several years, being criticized by members of the public for how the district handled the COVID lockdowns and masking issue, a sex survey of ninth graders that violated district policy, and more recently for how the board and administration presented the middle school project. Last week it was learned that a parent in Birmingham Township filed a religious discrimination complaint against the district for that sex survey.

In announcing his decision in January, he gave no specific reason but said “This decision comes after much reflection and conversation with my bride Debbie, and while not made lightly, I know the timing is right.”

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