No snap decisions will be made about the future leader of the South Bend Community School Corporation.

The school board's decision on who will replace Dr. Robert Zimmerman as superintendent won't come for about ten months, but some final decisions to get the official search underway were made Wednesday night.

Board member Marcia Hummel says, "You're tying the board's hands if you don't start the process."

There will be no waiting, yet no rush, as the corporation searches for a superintendent.

"We're starting over, and that is something this board is afraid to say," Hummel explains.

What they also fear is ever again having a situation where the board votes to oust its leader halfway through a contract.

Until November 4th, the same group is in charge of making decisions. After that, four new faces could be sitting at the table.

Vice President Ann Rosen says, "I definitely think the community wants the new board to be very involved."

The rest of this board agrees. Their job is laying the groundwork only, and it has already started.

Community Foundation of St. Joseph County has agreed to pick up the bill for the corporation to do a first-ever nationwide superintendent search.

Community Foundation's President Rose Meissner says, "It's hard to imagine any organization that's more important to the future of this community than the South Bend Community Schools, and we just wanted to make sure they were granted the best opportunity to find the best talent."

The board made it clear that interim Superintendent James Kapsa is a very qualified candidate and would be considered if he chooses to be.

Hummel says, "It's not about Mr. Kapsa or wanting him or not. The opportunity to look at what's out there, I think, is really important. Let's involve the community like we've never done before, so when the new board moves on they can even start participating after November 4th."

In the crowd, a potential new face on the board says he's not so sure this will happen.

Kyle Chamberlin, a school board candidate says, "The fact that they're just now setting that path worries me that the timeline won't be in place for the new board to make a decision expediently in the spring."

The school board decided Wednesday night on a time frame for its search.

By September 2nd, they hope to choose some firms they would like to work with to start the search.

In November, after elections, they would like the new board to get involved immediately, as well as the community.

They hope to start the interview process in January and officially name a superintendent by June or July.