Should Bedford County Public Schools' next superintendent have excellent people skills?

Or is it more important for the candidate to exhibit a "students first" philosophy to manage more than 10,000 pupils in the 22-school network?

And how should the schools' next leader communicate with the members of the school board?

Those are the questions the board needs help in answering because the schools' current chief, Superintendent James Blevins, is retiring in June. Three public forums are scheduled this week.

Blevins, 59, has been superintendent of the school system since 1998. As chief of the school system, he will earn a salary of $135,313 this fiscal year, not including benefits. In his first year at Bedford County Public Schools, he earned $90,000.

The school board in October selected Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to conduct a nationwide search and agreed to pay the firm up to $30,000 plus expenses. The firm was one of only two to respond to the school system's request for bids.

"We, along with our superintendent search firm, Ray and Associates, Inc., will be giving the public a chance to voice their opinions on the type of person they would like to see as our next superintendent," said school spokesman Ryan Edwards.

When the firm was chosen in October, school board chairman Gary Hostutler said it was his intention to hire a new superintendent during the first three months of 2009. Vice chairwoman Debbie Hoback said Friday the deadline for applications is January 21.

"Ray and Associates ... will handle everything," Hoback said. "When they have a pool of applicants ready they will present to us. We felt like that was the best way to do it. None of our opinions will go into it until the interview process."

Hoback said for her, the ideal candidate will be open and communicative with the school board, good with people and wise enough to surround himself or herself with staff who are strong in their areas of expertise.

"We want somebody who is good all around," she said. "We want the best."

When asked if she sought someone with a personality similar to Blevins, she said: "It would be unfair to anyone if we were looking to find anyone exactly like Dr. Blevins. We will look at each one's strengths and judge on their own merits."

Hostutler was not available for comment last week.

For those unable to attend the public meetings who still would like to share input, there is a downloadable survey on the school system's Web site in which participants choose the 10 most desired characteristics in a candidate for superintendent from a list of 33 qualities. The completed survey must be faxed to Ray and Associates by Thursday.

On the Net: www.bedford.k12.va.us

Three open forums will be held next week at the county's high schools:

n 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2 at Staunton River High School

n 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3 at Jefferson Forest High School

n 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 at Liberty High School