Bedford County school Superintendent James Blevins is expected to announce his retirement by Friday, at least one school board member said Wednesday.

Veteran school board member Shirley McCabe said Wednesday she expects Blevins, the county's superintendent for a decade, to make a formal announcement today or Friday about his plans to leave his job.

"I believe he might be having a meeting with his principals on Friday," said McCabe, who has represented the Montvale District for 13 years. "That is what we are assuming is going to happen."

Blevins "has talked about it [retiring] in the past -- when he is going to announce it is up to him," said school board member Joy Wright, who represents the Stewartsville District.

School spokesman Ryan Edwards, speaking on behalf of Blevins, would not confirm or deny that the superintendent will make such an announcement this week. "I have nothing to report at this time. Tell your fax machine that I'll give it a ring on Friday," Edwards said.

The school board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. today at Bedford Science & Technology Center. Blevins' plans for the future could be discussed behind closed doors before the regular meeting -- the board has a closed session an hour before its 7 p.m. regular meetings.

When asked whether she knew if Blevins is leaving the school system, Mickey VanDerwerker, the city's representative to the county school board, said if the county board were to discuss it "that would be a personnel matter, and we would discuss it in closed session."

Issues related to personnel can be discussed in closed session according to exemptions allowed under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act.

At least three school board members said Blevins' contract expires June 30. Blevins' salary, not including benefits, for the 2008-09 fiscal year is $135,313 according to the school system's budget. It was unclear Wednesday if Blevins will stay through the current school year, assuming that he announces he's leaving.

A new line item in the "executive administration" category was added in the current fiscal year budget -- $100,000 for contractual expenses, which school board members acknowledged Wednesday could be money used to advertise requests for proposals for a superintendent's search and pay for other hiring costs if Blevins retires.

"If we were to be looking for a superintendent it would probably come out of that fund," school board Chairman Gary Hostutler said.

If Blevins does plan to leave the school system, it will be on his own volition -- not at the board's request, said Moneta District school board member Talbot Huff.

"He is doing a super job," Huff said. "As an example, the JF [Jefferson Forest High School] renovation project is ahead of schedule and under budget."

Two large construction projects -- a $38.5 million renovation at Jefferson Forest High and a $5.9 million renovation at Staunton River High School -- will be completed this fall.

Blevins was hired in 1998 to replace John Kent, who was asked to retire amid controversy over the budget and his contract. Blevins was paid $90,000 the first year.

Blevins previously served as superintendent in Nottaway County. He worked in that capacity for seven years.

"I think ... he would like to be involved in other things," McCabe said. "He has done a good job for us -- if he decides to go."