Despite appeals from dozens of residents on Monday evening, the Tyler County Board of Education upheld its decision not to renew the contract of Superintendent Shane Highley, meaning the process of finding a new superintendent needs to get underway as soon as possible.

Highley’s contract will end on June 30, just a month before the new school year is set to begin. Board members have much work to do between now and then to ensure a new superintendent is in place, particularly given some of the projects underway such as the consolidation of the county’s two elementary schools and also the high standards set over many years from Tyler County’s top education leader.

Perhaps the three board members that voted against Highley — Diane Stender, Larry Thomas and Andy Shreves — already have someone in mind as the next superintendent. They’ve kept their cards close to the vest in regard to why they didn’t want Highley back despite widespread public support for the superintendent. Consider:

“Superintendent Highley has done a great job,” resident Kay Lynn Wells said. “He is what Tyler County Schools need. The community, teachers, administrators and students support him.”

Tyler County residents now must hope the board has the right person in mind to lead the school system. Anything less will be to the detriment of public education there.