Feb 28, 2013 2 min read

As the Peters Township School District continues its search for a new superintendent, focus groups and the public are invited to attend meetings in the Middle School auditorium.

Residents are invited to attend a meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 14, or from 8-10 a.m. or 2-4 p.m. March 15.

According to Shelly Belcher, district spokeswoman, the goals of the focus groups are to identify the qualities needed in a superior school leader; identify the strengths and skills essential for the next superintendent; identify key issues facing the district in the next five years and; identify the obstacles to student achievement and the strategies the next superintendent will need to employ to overcome those obstacles.

Additional sessions will be held for more specific focus groups including an 11 a.m. session March 11 for PTA Leadership and members, and a 6:30 p.m. session the same date for community leaders, such as township officials and representatives of Character Counts, Parks and Recreation, civic leaders, clergy, senior citizens groups, Education Foundation and League of Women Voters. At 5 p.m. March 14, there will be a session for booster groups and Creative Learning Collaborative.

For those unable to attend any of the sessions, input will be received through email at ptsdsuptsearch@cciu.org, or by calling 484-237-5010.

The search was necessitated by the resignation of former superintendent Nina Zetty, who took a similar position Dec. 1 with the Gateway School District. Joseph Dimperio is interim superintendent earning $500 a day without benefits.

The district hopes to have a new superintendent in place by the beginning of the 2013-14 school year.