Cape Fear Community College will move ahead with a search for a new president despite a lawsuit by former president Ted Spring, who seeks to be reinstated.

The college announced Friday that trustees had voted at their Thursday meeting to begin a formal presidential search process and laid out a timeline for the search.

Board of trustees vice-chairman William Turner was chosen to lead the search committee, which “will follow the guidance given to the board by the N.C. Community College System Office,” the college’s news release stated.

On April 27, the position will be advertised nationally, although the board has decided not to engage a search firm to assist it, CFCC spokesman David Hardin said Friday.

May 22 is the deadline for applications. Four days later, the trustees will meet to review applications. Selected candidates will likely be interviewed in June, and when all interviews are complete, the board will submit the names of finalists to the N.C. Community College System for their review, the release stated.

The board expects to name the successful candidate “later this summer,” according to the release.

Meanwhile, Spring’s suit, which was filed March 27 in New Hanover County Superior Court, awaits a response from the college. Attorney James Norment with the firm of Ward and Smith PA, who is working with the board of trustees on this matter, said Friday that the board has until April 30 to respond. He indicated that a response would be forthcoming on the 30th, and that it “will speak for itself.”

Spring in his suit against the trustees is asking for damages of at least $25,000 and reinstatement as CFCC president.

After Spring resigned as president Jan. 22 – a resignation his suit claims was made under pressure from the board – the trustees appointed Amanda Lee, then the CFCC vice president for instructional services, as interim president.

Also on Friday, the New Hanover County Board of Education announced it is accepting “letters of interest and resumes” for a vacancy in one of the four positions it appoints to the CFCC Board of Trustees. The term of office is four years, and the deadline to apply is May 13.