After nearly three and a half hours of debate, the Seattle School Board formally adopted a set of 10 qualifications for a new superintendent last Wednesday, opening the door for a national search process.

Among other qualities, the next school chief should be committed to reducing the achievement gap, able to inspire trust and motivation and build leadership, the School Board decided.

Input from a series of public meetings with district staff and stakeholders were presented to the board and used as a springboard to define the list of "profile" requirements and one preferred quality.

Applicants must exhibit:

* A strong commitment to public education and has a record of successfully leading a diverse, urban public school district.

* Demonstrated ability to improve student performance and reduce the achievement gap.

* Understands institutional factors contributing to the achievement gap and has demonstrated the ability to address them.

* Demonstrated ability to reconcile competing interests in order to keep the needs of all students foremost in the decision-making process.

* Inspires trust and confidence, models integrity, and effectively communicates a vision of quality education.

* A capacity to manage complex change and consistently apply continuous improvement strategies.

* Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with public education stakeholders.

* Able to build an effective senior leadership team and hold it accountable for advancing the district vision.

* Successful experience in sound fiscal management of district resources.

Several board members said they believed the next superintendent should have a background in kindergarten-through-12th-grade education, though the board eventually decided it would be preferred, but not required.

Ray and Associates, the Iowa-based search consultant hired by the School Board to find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Raj Manhas, will use the profile to recruit and advertise for candidates around the country.

The deadline to apply for the job is March 13. The board plans to begin reviewing applications by March 27 and a new superintendent should be hired by the end of April with a start date of July 1.

Throughout the series of public meetings held during the past few weeks, several common themes emerged, said Jim Shoemake and John Young, of Ray and Associates. People filled out questionnaires and were asked to name specific people the district should recruit.

The number one ranked quality or characteristic chosen was a superintendent who "inspires trust, self-confidence and models high standards." Leadership skills for the challenges of ethnically and culturally diverse community, a willingness to listen to input and ability to develop and communicate a vision and direct an effective administrative team, were also top choices.

Among the critical issues the next superintendent will face: school consolidation and closures, establishing long-term stable funding, union and contract issues, declining enrollment, factors contributing to institutional racism and fair and equitable distribution of resources.

Building trust within the communities emerged as an important issue, too, said Shoemake.

"That's very, very important to people," he said. "It was said more than once that there is a patronage system in place here."

Shoemake also said it was obvious that people felt very passionately about the community and the school district.

"...And that's such a good selling point," he said.

Young said he was pleased with the outcome and how the board worked together to compile a list they all agreed on.

"These to me are good profile statements and there are a reasonable number that zero in on the most important issues," said Young.

Rebekah Schilperoort may be reached at 783.1244 or rebekahs@ballardnewstribune.com