Low test scores, overcrowding and dwindling financial resources are a few of the challenges the new J. Sterling Morton West High School principal must be able to handle, parents told district staff April 1.

About 20 residents, mostly parents, gathered at the school as part of a public hearing to see what qualities people wanted in the new principal. The district began searching for current principal John Lucas’ replacement after he submitted his letter of resignation in January. The resignation is effective June 30.

Top among the parents’ concerns was finding a principal who was capable of improving the school’s lagging test results. Morton West has failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards in both math and reading since 2003, the first year the standards went into effect as part of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Resident Rick Carlson warned the district of hiring an administrator from wealthier schools who may not be used to working within a diverse environment and dealing with the financial challenges facing the district.

“I want a person with a proven track record of turning around a failing school, bringing up their test scores and graduation rates,” Carlson said. “I want somebody that’s a disciplinarian both for students and employees.”

With three principals in six years, parent Mary Forston said she wanted to see a principal that showed a desire to become vested in the school and community.

“So many (students) are coming to school with unstable home situations. They need stability in school,” Forston said.

Charisma and an ability to engage students were top personality traits the parents wanted to see in a new principal.

The hearing was part of an ongoing outreach campaign, spearheaded by new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Michael Kuzniewski, to generate public input on the search.

“When you hire someone new, you want to tell them, ‘Here are the strengths and here are the challenges, that have been identified,’” Kuzniewski said. “It’s a starting point for the new principal.”

The district also is asking all stakeholders to take online survey to identify what they see as Morton West’s strengths, challenges, priorities, and necessary qualifications for a principal.

The survey went live last week and will be available until midnight Saturday, April 11. As of Monday, 62 people had responded to the English version of the survey, which also is available in Spanish.

Kuzniewski said the district has advertised the survey through e-mails, phone calls and newsletters to try to boost responses. He also is hoping to increase student response rates. As of Monday, April 6, only three students had filled out the survey.

Linda Mesa, who has two children at the high school, also called for the new principal to engage parents, saying the low turnout at the public hearing was a sign of a lack of parental involvement.

“This room should be packed,” Mesa said. “It’s so easy to say what we want in a leader, but I think (the new principal) should include what he expects from us.”

Kuzniewski said the low turnout was one of the reason the district is offering the survey online, and the struggling economy is making it more difficult for parents to attend such events.

“People are working two jobs to try to make ends meet,” Kuzniewski said. “That’s why we’re offering the survey as another opportunity.”