CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Educational Broadcasting Authority members formally opened a search for a new executive director for West Virginia Public Broadcasting Wednesday.

Board members voted to publish notice of the vacancy, and also set a deadline of Dec. 7 for accepting applications.

The current executive director, Dennis Adkins, announced in September that he would be retiring Dec. 21 after five years at the helm of WVPB.

That announcement followed numerous run-ins with EBA members over finances and the future direction for public broadcasting in the state.

The EBA will meet Dec. 14 to review applications for the executive director position.

Prior to those motions, board members met in executive session to discuss personnel matters.

"We all discussed what kind of qualities we need in an executive director going forward," authority member Mark Polen said.

Also Wednesday, the authority approved spending up to $38,000 to upgrade the computer automation system that controls on-air programming on West Virginia Public Television.

Adkins said the current unit, which is located at the Beckley studios, is 12 years old and is technologically outmoded.

"You try to constantly Band-Aid, Band-Aid, Band-Aid, and the technology eventually just swamps you," he said.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.