The Lake Washington School District Board of Directors is embarking on its process to find a successor to Dr. Chip Kimball, who will be leaving after this school year.

As the first step, the board is asking parents and community members to provide input into what they should look for in candidates for that position.

“Finding the right individual to lead our school district is among the most important tasks we do as a school board,” noted Board President Jackie Pendergrass. “We have several very important initiatives underway as a district, such as the change in grade configuration of our schools. Given these challenges, we are trying to determine the kind of leader who will best help us complete that work.”

The survey covers the critical issues facing the district and the background, experiences or characteristics a new superintendent should have.

This feedback will help the board refine their hiring criteria for the new superintendent. Parents and community members can take the survey by going online to the district Web site, www.lwsd.org, and clicking on the superintendent survey link.

Other ways to provide feedback to the board on this important subject include sending an email to the board at board@lwsd.org, which will send your email to each board member.

You can also speak directly to the board at the Oct. 24 board meeting. A specific public comment period will be devoted to this topic. Each person who signs up for public comment is given three minutes to address the school board.

That board meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. This item will be placed toward the end of the agenda so that more people can take part.