The York County School Board on Nov. 5 reviewed results from a superintendent-candidate survey and set preferred qualifications for the upcoming search.

Board members said the packet of 972 survey responses—compiled and summarized by staff—showed parents and school staff made up a large share of respondents and prioritized experience as a principal, classroom teaching experience and central-office familiarity. Board members proposed that principal experience be required or strongly preferred and that superintendent experience be listed as preferred, not mandatory.

Members discussed doctorate credentials and reported the survey showed mixed views: roughly half of respondents rated a doctorate as preferred or required, while other respondents did not make it mandatory. The board agreed to list a doctoral degree as preferred rather than required.

Residency and relocation repeatedly arose during the discussion. The board favored asking that a new superintendent be willing to relocate to York County and proposed a time window for doing so (board members discussed 12–18 months) while offering a temporary relocation stipend (members referenced a typical six-month temporary housing benefit). Staff told the board that specifics of relocation assistance would be negotiated with final candidates and depend on whether a candidate moves from in-state or out-of-state.

The board also distilled the survey’s leadership and personal-characteristics priorities into specific expectations for candidates. Key leadership traits the board will highlight in its profile and use in interview questions include decisive leadership, teamwork and vision, organization and an analytical, data-driven approach. Member-prioritized personal characteristics to be emphasized in references and interviews include accessibility, good listening, accountability, respectfulness, caring and being consistently involved in schools.

Board members confirmed they will supply these qualifications to the Virginia School Boards Association search consultant and use the combined list—survey results plus the division’s prior superintendent-qualification letter—as the basis for candidate screening and interview questions. The packet read to the board lists required and preferred items such as classroom and campus leadership experience; preferred items include superintendent experience, Virginia experience and a doctorate.

The board asked staff to finalize the qualification language and to include the preferred personal and leadership traits in the public announcement so candidates and the public understand the division’s priorities.