HALIFAX — Thursday evening in closed session, the Halifax County Schools Board of Education will begin interviews for the superintendent’s post.

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Saturday, the board reviewed survey responses from the community describing the attributes the district’s next educational chief should have.

The entire process has been under the scrutiny of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Saturday, Catherine Brooks, DPI’s District Transformation Coach, and Stacy Costello, DPI’s Interim Section Chief for Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps, worked with school board members in going through some 150 responses to look for the qualities the different groups deemed most important.

DPI had also gone through the surveys and presented the board members tallies to ensure DPI and the school board were in agreement about which qualities the public wants in the next superintendent.

Brooks told the board an outline would be created based on information gleaned from the surveys and used to formulate questions of the candidates so the school board members would be able to assess candidates’ abilities to meet the essential elements survey respondents identified.

Staff members who submitted surveys identified five attributes in this order: Honesty, putting students first, fairness, strong leadership and successful experience.

Parents and students responding to the survey identified the top five attributes the next superintendent should possess as honesty, dedication, caring, educated and trustworthy.

The attributes selected by community respondents are good leader, honest and trustworthy, able communicator, loyal ad knowledgeable.

After tallying the results, board members discussed the attributes.

Tyrone Williams remarked honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity are all leadership attributes.

Gladys Walden said most respondents assumed the superintendent would be well educated and qualified for the position.

Chairwoman Debbie Hardy said her reading of the surveys indicate that people want a “people person” — someone good at public relations, someone who “can communicate well with parents, the community … everybody”, and someone “who can build strong relationships but still hold people accountable.”

Dr. Donna Hunter remarked the next superintendent should be able to turn a bad situation into a positive situation. For example, the superintendent should listen to and assure an angry parent that the situation will be thoroughly scrutinized and resolved. After thoroughly examining or investigating the situation, the superintendent would communicate the findings and the decision to the parent.

Carolyn Hawkins remarked the next superintendent should be able to build trust with all stakeholders, be able to listen and approach every situation with a degree of passion.

All board members reasserted their focus this year of improving student performance, getting finances stabilized, and increasing community engagement. The next superintendent must share these goals and focus on accomplishing them, they agreed.

A decision on a new superintendent is expected in December.