The Hillsborough County School Board met Tuesday to discuss the next steps in finding a superintendent, how long it may take and how much it might cost.

The board voted in January in terminate superintendent Mary Ellen Elia's contract. The board voted 4-3 to terminate Elia's contract, despite Elia being recently named Superintendent of the Year.

The board named Jeff Eakins as Acting Superintendent last week. Eakins, who was previously the district's deputy superintendent, has expressed interest in the job.

“I definitely feel like my path has kind of led me to this point,” he said. “I think definitely I understand this community, so I'm not going to shy away from the fact that I have a vision to move this district even further along.”

At Tuesday’s workshop, board members discussed having a nationwide search. Hiring a search firm would cost $40,000.

“You got to realize, it's not free. So if we do the will of the people, it's going to cost money,” said school board chair Susan Valdez.

Meanwhile, the school board remains adamant Elia's removal was about her contract and not personal. Elia had been at odds with board members on several issues.

Her base salary was $289,000. Elia will receive a buyout, with two-plus years remaining, benefits and unused vacation time, that will total a little more than $1 million. Elia, 66, has been with the district since 1986 and superintendent since 2005.

Her last day will be March 5.

According to partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, a statewide survey of superintendent salaries show a range of $230,000 to nearly $290,000. And that does not include benefits.

Another potential issue for the board in finding a replacement is that Hillsborough is one of six school districts among the top 75 in the United States looking for new leadership right now.

Other districts seeking a new superintendent are Palm Beach County (12th largest in the nation), Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C. (18th largest), DeKalb County, Ga., (29th largest) and Albuquerque, N.M. (31st largest).

Hillsborough County is home to the nation's eighth-largest school district. It has 206,000 students and 27,000 employees. School board members are hoping to hire someone by July 1.