When it comes to the qualifications for the next CHCCS superintendent, members of the public have expressed interested in a person who is a good communicator and is committed to closing the achievement gap.

“That’s just a key issue, in regards to the achievement gap,” said one resident. “For all students to have a fair shot and a quality education no matter where they start.”

The Board of Education held a forum Tuesday night to receive public input on the upcoming search for a new superintendent.

Jim Causby has taken over as interim superintendent after the retirement of Tom Forcella.

The forum lasted nearly an hour and members of public brought up issues such as globalization and special needs education, but the most common topic was how to close the achievement gap.

“We have to have a leader who is willing to go out and engage the community,” said another resident. “Even hearing things that may not always be comfortable and may be downright hard to listen to.”

The forum was just one step in a process to learn more about what the public wants to see in the next superintendent.

Board chairman James Barrett said the school district has hired a firm to help with the search. The firm will be collecting all of the input the board receives and will present it to them in their meeting September 15.

“We’re going to take all of the input about what you all have said that you want to see in a superintendent and we’re going to create a profile,” Barrett said.

The board has yet to see any of the applications, which were being accepted until Thursday evening.

“We will put together a profile that says ‘this is the ideal person we’re looking for,'” Barrett said. “It may look like Wonder Woman, I don’t know. At the end of that meeting on the 15th, the organization will release to us all of the applications”

For members of the public who would like to give their input, public comment is accepted at every school board meeting. There is also an online survey that has been sent out, which will be open until September 7.

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