The School Board of Alachua County has launched an online survey to help search for someone to replace the outgoing superintendent.
The board is using surveymonkey.com to allow residents to weigh in on the characteristics they hope to see in candidates that will be applying for the position.
The survey, set to remain open until Nov. 12, features 20 characteristics candidates might possess, ranging from educational expertise to the ability to work in a diverse setting.
The goal is to give the board an understanding of the kind of candidates residents want to see in the position, said Jackie Johnson, Alachua County Public Schools spokeswoman.
The replacement search began following former superintendent Dan Boyd’s retirement announcement in mid-August.
“He had been working for around 44 years, so we anticipated it,” Johnson said. “We knew that it would be sometime this year, and it was just a matter of when.”
Johnson said the number of completed surveys thus far is unclear, but she said she hopes for a good turnout. The school board used the same technology when surveying residents about the board’s strategic planning process and received more than 500 responses, she said.
The board has scheduled three live forums to supplement the online survey. The forums are scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, Nov. 7 and Nov. 12 at Hidden Oak Elementary School, Metcalfe Elementary School and Irby Elementary School respectively.
James Speer, principal of Horizon Center Alternative School, said survey responses may vary based on computer literacy of county residents. Residents who have this technology readily available are more likely to respond, while those who don’t will hopefully attend the forums to provide input, he said.
“Regardless of background, I think people want to see someone in that position who is aware and experienced in dealing with the sort of challenges each school in the district is facing,” Speer said.
A version of this story ran on page 3 on 10/22/2013 under the headline "School board uses online survey to aid superintendent search"
