On Friday, it became official at the Butler County Schools’ central office - the search is on for a new superintendent.

That follows the announcement that Dr. Mike Reed, after six years at the helm of the school system, is resigning to take on the same position of the Hartselle City School System.

On Monday, Frank Thigpen, BOE president, said the opening would be discussed this Thursday during the board’s regularly scheduled work session.

&uot;We already had a work session on the books,&uot; he said.

&uot;Of course, I’m sure now we’ll add this to it.&uot;

Thigpen did not elaborate on what action the board might take, but did say Reed’s leadership would be missed.

&uot;I called Mike Friday and extended my congratulations,&uot; Thigpen said.

&uot;I believe he is leaving the system in better shape than he found it.&uot;

He cited some reasons for his beliefs.

&uot;We’re operating in the black for one thing,&uot; he said.

&uot;The dropout rate has decreased and the graduation rate has increased.

That’s something to be very happy about.&uot;

Thigpen said one aspect of Reed he always has appreciated is the superintendent’s foresight.

&uot;Mike doesn’t see things just to get through tomorrow, but for the long term,&uot; he said.

&uot;I believe he has laid groundwork that we’ll see many positive results from in the future.&uot;

He went on to say that he hates to see Reed leave and that he’ll miss the superintendent’s ability to do the right thing.

&uot;He doesn’t do patchwork and I think he has been good for our system,&uot; Thigpen said.

&uot;I think has done us a good job, a very good job.&uot;

The board president said he did speak to each of his fellow board members Friday to make sure they were informed of Reed’s decision.

He said no plans were made then and that it is likely his resignation will be accepted with regret.

&uot;We have had teachers who were under contract and have resigned,&uot; he said.

&uot;We’ll likely accept his resignation and we’ll pay him through whatever his last work day will be.&uot;

Paul Harding, a resident of Georgiana, and a retired schoolteacher expressed his satisfaction with the way the whole issue has been handled involving Dr. Reed’s job search.

&uot;What disappoints me about this is that if they (the board) knew he was going, you would think they would have been searching for someone even if it was a quiet search, or close,&uot; he said.

Harding said it was obvious Reed would leave and that plans for his replacement should have already been in place.

&uot;It just seems to me that they should have handled this differently,&uot; he said.

&uot;I’m upset by this and there are other people as well.&uot;

Harding said he is not upset with Reed for taking the job and wished him well.

&uot;I think if you can move on and better yourself you should move on for what is best for you,&uot; he said. &uot;I think the board should have been put on alert that he was going to move on at the first instance he could.&uot;

The board’s work session is at 7 p.m. Thursday.