Yesterday's public forum on the city's search for its next school superintendent had all the ingredients in place except the public.

Five people from "the public" showed up to the media center at Lucille M. Brown Middle School for the second of four hearings scheduled for public input on replacing outgoing Superintendent Deborah Jewell-Sherman. Four of them were candidates for School Board seats.

Three of the candidates offered their input to the three School Board members who were present.

School Board Chairman George P. Braxton II scheduled the forums to gather ideas on the challenges facing the next leader of the Richmond school system, the skills the person will need and the things the community has to offer the next superintendent.

Braxton assembled a 15-person search committee that will use the information and opinions gathered during the hearings when it begins looking for a new superintendent next month.

Two public forums on the superintendent search remain: