Searches are underway to hire several new superintendents in the Valley and nearby areas.

But school boards now have far fewer people to choose from than they once did.

In the Valley, Harrisonburg and Augusta County superintendents are retiring. Madison and Fluvanna counties are looking for new people to lead their schools too.

Harrisonburg has had 22 people apply for Superintendent Donald Ford's job.

According to the Virginia School Board Association, that's a much smaller pool of people to choose from than school boards would have seen ten years ago. Officials say school divisions used to get well over 100 people applying for a superintendent job.

Harrisonburg School Board Chair Sallie Strickler says part of the issue is people simply being less willing to move their families.

"One of the big differences now is obviously the economy. People are staying put versus putting themselves at risk for potentially losing a job if they [already] have a job," says Strickler.

Strickler adds she's "pleased" with the pool of applicants the city has from which to choose.

Board members will be look at applications over the next several weeks.

They hope to announce their choice in May.