Progress can signify movement in any one direction, depending on which way you’re looking, of course.

The direction of progress we’re looking towards is one that includes a brighter future for Prince Edward County Public Schools, its students and staff, and the entire community.

The unanimous decision by the county’s school board to hire search firm BWP and Associates and appoint a search committee is progress toward finding the best and brightest our nation has to offer to lead Prince Edward’s public schools to new heights.

The search committee will consist of Longwood University President W. Taylor Reveley IV, Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Clark and School Board Chairman Russell Dove.

Though the decision is not perfect — such as agreeing to spend $13,500 on services that Longwood and Reveley offered for free — it’s one that we support.

We applaud the school board for agreeing to use Reveley’s vast network and contacts to find the best school chief for Prince Edward.

We also applaud the appointment of Megan Clark to the committee. This young, proven leader, who is wise beyond her years, will use her sound judgement in considering candidates to forward to the school board.

“It was a delight to see a unanimous vote by the board tonight, and I’m delighted to be helpful in the process,” Reveley said after the Feb. 17 decision was made. “This truly is a golden moment for the community.”

We agree with him. The board’s move is a sign of clear progress — despite some members’ irrational concerns about Longwood leading the search.

“I think it’s admirable that the entities agreed to work together,” Farmville District Representative Sherry Honeycutt said during the meeting. She proposed that Reveley and BWP work together to conduct the search during the previous called meeting.

We wish the best of luck to the school board, BWP and the search committee in finding the brightest to come and lead our community and its school division.