RFP Superintendent WS/FCS

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Superintendent Search Services to identify and recruit a new Superintendent of Schools starting January 1, 2026, or sooner. The procurement seeks an executive search firm or qualified individual(s) to conduct a comprehensive search process, with specific deliverables including developing a vacancy announcement, facilitating candidate identification, engaging community stakeholders, assessing candidates, and serving as a liaison between candidates and the Board. The school district serves approximately 51,000 students across 81 schools, with an annual budget of approximately $600 million. Proposals are due by Friday, July 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST, with submission methods including hand-delivery, postal service, or electronic mail. Evaluation criteria will encompass experience with similar searches, community engagement capabilities, communication structures, availability, overall service cost, and projected timeline. The district requires the search partner to have demonstrable experience in working with similar-sized districts and robust community engagement strategies.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The district's diverse student population includes 31.7% White, 30.7% Hispanic, 29.1% Black or African-American, and smaller percentages of other racial groups, with 53 Title I schools and over 50% of students qualifying for free-and-reduced lunch. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the search involves finding a superintendent for a district with complex educational needs, including serving approximately 8,000 students with special educational needs, 8,700 Multilingual Learners, and 6,000 Academically and Intellectually Gifted students. The RFP requires a detailed fee proposal covering all search-related expenses, including travel, advertising, and ancillary costs. Although a specific award value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the search and the district's size suggest a substantial investment in this executive recruitment process. Potential respondents should be prepared to provide a comprehensive proposal that demonstrates deep understanding of educational leadership recruitment and community engagement.