Part of the way to ensure the Wiscasset School Department finds the right leader for Wiscasset Middle High School is to ask people in and outside the school what they want to see in that person, Superintendent of Schools Heather Wilmot said.

The department has launched a survey for parents, students, staff and others to weigh in on the principal search.

The survey can be taken online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/FPQQ63P or on paper. Copies can be picked up at the superintendent’s office at 225 Gardiner Road.

The survey opened Sept. 17 and closes at 9 a.m. on Sept. 28. Wilmot estimated it takes five minutes to complete.

She planned to monitor results daily. Her experience working with data when she was earning her doctorate will help her compile the results and find themes, she said.

“As a student, member of the staff, parent or neighbor, your feedback is important to us,” an introduction to the survey states.

The survey is anonymous and aims to help the department better understand the perspective of the greater community, the introduction continues.

The survey uses the term “leader” in place of principal. Wilmot said she wanted to emphasize the principal’s role as one of the leaders in the school department and the community.

The four-question survey asks respondents if they are a parent, student, staff member, neighbor or community member, or other; and what question they would ask someone being interviewed for the job.

Survey-takers then rank seven items listed as components to effective leadership; the survey ends with a box for stating anything else the school department should consider.

Wiscasset Middle High parent Charleen Foley said she is glad the department is doing the survey, and glad that it is anonymous. “A lot of times, people are afraid to share their opinions in a public forum,” Foley said. Her son Aiden Foley is a seventh grader at the school; daughter Sarah Foley, a sophomore.

Their mother said she hopes the department doesn’t go with an interim principal and then make a permanent hire later.

“I’d like to see someone who wants to dedicate themselves to the school and the students, and to helping Wiscasset grow,” she said.

Wilmot said she, as well, hopes an interim hire can be avoided. Applications for the principal opening have started coming in, she said.

Principal Cheri Towle is leaving to become Brewer’s superintendent of schools. Her last day on the job in Wiscasset is Oct. 23.