MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) - The Shelby County School Board is moving forward with its superintendent search one day after John Aitken decided to walk away.
PROACT is the firm hired to conduct the nationwide search for a superintendent to lead the Unified School District. Two meetings will be held this week to get parent and community input.
The first meeting comes 24 hours after the Unified School Board voted without objection to buy John Aitken out of his contract.
Aitken is leaving two years early, with a $323,000 severance package.
Interim Memphis City Schools Superintendent Dorsey Hopson is now the lone superintendent as MCS and Shelby County Schools prepare to consolidate.
Aitken said the job is not for the faint of heart.
"It's been a tough process, and I'm going to tell you this is hard work," he said. "The last two years have been grinding. It's been phenomenal work by staffs to move forward but it's time to move on."
A number of board members wanted to call off the search and have Aitken lead the merged district. Others wanted a fresh start.
The meeting for input begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the East High School auditorium.
A second session will be held Thursday night at Houston High School.
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