Integrity. Accessibility. Communication. Vision.

Those are just some of the qualities an ideal superintendent would have to be the next leader of the Lawrence public schools.

Al Hanna of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates Ltd., the search firm hired to help find the next superintendent, referenced more than 300 interviews and questionnaires that listed the traits wanted by the school board, district staff, parents and community groups.

“Several of these things fall together — approachable, accessible, good listener,” Hanna said. “For us, the search starts tonight.”

The firm will compile a list of 10 to 15 candidates to be given to the school board in late January. Finalists will be interviewed March 3, 4, and 5.

“They don’t want a person that’s just going to sit and make decisions on their own,” Hanna said. “They want a person they’re going to be involved with and have input with.”

Another issue with the school board is how much secrecy should be involved with the potential candidates.

“That whole issue of confidentiality and trust between a superintendent and the board is a key relationship that is really important to establish initially and sustain,” said board member Rich Minder. “I would want our intent to be that, primarily.”

But Hanna says whether the board wants to keep candidates classified or reveal the final candidates to the community, the firm will do it either way. The firm will also use the board’s guidance on what criteria to use when recruiting and sorting through potential superintendents.

Hanna did warn that it’s difficult to make everyone happy.

“You have a lot of different groups in your community and people have different opinions,” he said.