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GREENSBORO — The Guilford County Board of Education on Thursday unanimously accepted the resignation of Superintendent Terry Grier, to become effective March 23.

Should the next superintendent be hired from within or without? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

Grier, who was ill and not present at the board meeting, accepted a job in January with San Diego Unified Schools. He starts July 1.

Grier will use personal leave time between March 14 and March 23 to make the transition into his new position. The board approved 8-2 hiring Sharon Ozment, chief finance officer, and Eric Becoats, chief of staff, as co-interim superintendents. Darlene Garrett and Garth Hébert voted no. Anita Sharpe was absent.

Ozment and Becoats will start March 15.

"Their willingness to do anything they could to help the district … we're extremely appreciative of and thankful for," said board Chairman Alan Duncan.

Hebert said he realized Ozment and Becoats are in for a long and difficult job.

"You have my sympathies and blessings and best wishes," he said. "Thanks for stepping up."

Ozment and Becoats said they will be working with Grier and Duncan to learn their new responsibilities. Ozment has worked with Guilford County Schools since 1974; Becoats since 2005.

"It's very flattering and humbling," Ozment said about the short-term promotion. "And it does afford you the opportunity to look at the district through a different set of lenses."

Jill Wilson, attorney for the board, will draw their contracts.

The board also laid out a checklist of leadership characteristics members want in a new superintendent.

The board plans to allow the public to comment on the list once it is formally compiled later this month.

Members did not decide this week when to schedule community forums or whether to employ a firm to interview candidates.

Several board members said they want someone who will focus on strengthening teacher instruction, particularly in elementary schools.

"We have an appalling and unacceptable number of kids in middle school and high school who cannot read," Jeff Belton said.

A superintendent who can be visible in schools, integrate the various agendas of business and community stakeholders, and encourage transparency among employees is also important, board members said.

"Please look very carefully within the district for someone," Deena Hayes said.

Duncan said the candidate would need "high energy" to handle the more than 10,000 employees and 71,000 students.

"It's just a very hard job," he said.

In other business, several parents, students and ministers sought help from the school board re-enrolling students who were suspended for their involvement in a brawl at Grimsley High School in December. Some of the students face criminal charges.

The board postponed until Feb. 19 a cost update on the opening of a new facility for the Academy at Smith. The renovation of a commercial building on South Holden Road was budgeted at $5.7 million. Students and teachers, formerly housed at Smith High School, moved Jan. 30, several months behind schedule.

Patrice Faison, who became principal in October, said Wednesday that 219 students attend the academy, which offers courses in construction technology and medical careers.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or morgan.josey@news-record.com