The search for the next Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent has begun. The application period opened Friday and will close Feb. 16. The school district will be making the first announcement today, said school district spokeswoman Pegge Erkeneff.

“The Board of Education is responsible for hiring the superintendent, and human resources is responsible for the position posting,” Erkeneff said. “The search will be advertised nationally.”

Depending on the pool of applications received, the school board will narrow down a list to interview between three and five candidates, Erkeneff said. The proceedings will be open to the public, she said.

The job description is determined by school district policy, and can be found within the policy manual. Qualifications require the applicant have a valid Alaska teaching and administrative certificate, a master’s degree with specializations, which are listed in the manual, and at least five years experience as a school administrator.

The superintendent selects and appoints all school district employees serving under him or herself, which are subject to approval of the school board, according to school district policy.

Desired qualities listed on the job advertisement include: experience and knowledge of the state, ability to work with the school board, ability to identify and select administrators, and advocate with legislators.

The salary will be between $140,000 and $165,000 annually, according to the advertisement. The superintendent will receive a comprehensive benefits package, which will be determined based on experience.

Interim Superintendent Sean Dusek has not yet announced whether he will be applying for the position, Erkeneff said. Dusek will maintain his current position until July 1, which is when the chosen candidate will take over, she said.

The school board is aiming to make the final selection for the position in the first part of March, Erkeneff said. The immediacy of the decision will be based on how the interview process goes.

In the meantime the school district is asking for feedback from the public, Erkeneff said. A survey asking Kenai Peninsula community members to weigh in on what traits they want in a superintendent will be launched today on the school district’s website, she said.

The survey is anonymous, but will ask where the responder lives on the Kenai Peninsula, and what their relationship is to the school district, Erkeneff said. There will be an option for open comment on the survey as well, she said. Public comment forms also may be acquired at the George Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough Administrative building in Soldotna.

“It is not a vote,” Erkeneff said. “But it will help guide the school board in the decision making process.”

Kelly Sullivan is a reporter for the Peninsula Clarion.