ADAMS TWP — People living in the Mars School District are invited to help the school board in its search for a new superintendent.

The board is asking residents, through an online survey, to name the characteristics and experiences they think are important in a new superintendent.

The survey can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.com/s/mars/suptsearch or through the district’s website, www.marsk12.org. Responses will be accepted through Feb. 15.

“Our hope is to have a broad base of opinions from a variety of stakeholders, so that we may confidently identify and hire the very best candidate to lead our high-achieving and growing school district into the future,” said board President Dayle Ferguson.

She said the survey responses will have an impact on the search for a superintendent, which began on Jan. 14 after the retirement announcement of Superintendent William Pettigrew. He will retire on or before Dec. 1.

The board hopes to hire a new superintendent before Pettigrew leaves so the two can work together.

The district has hired Victor Morrone as a consultant to help find the right candidate for the superintendent position.