BUTLER TWP — The search has begun for three administrative leaders in the Butler School District, and there is already a time crunch.

The Butler School Board administrative search committee hopes to hire a new superintendent by mid-March to give enough time for that person to have a say in who is hired as assistant superintendent and business manager.

It gives the search committee, which met for the first time Wednesday night, only three months to promote the superintendent position and select a candidate.

The last time there was an open search for a superintendent was when former Superintendent Ed Fink was hired in July 1995. A search committee met for almost the entire previous school year.

Al Vavro, committee chairman, said they’re “under the gun” to find someone to replace Superintendent Michael Strutt, who is retiring June 30. Vavro said during the past few weeks, he has looked over what the district has done in the past and what districts in the region have done when looking for a superintendent.

For instance, the last time Butler was looking for a superintendent there was a 20-person community advisory committee in addition to the search committee. Vavro said he would like to form a similar group.

Vavro, along with board members John Conrad and David Korn, make up the search committee.

And while the job will be advertised in newspapers and websites soon, probably within days, the committee is unsure of whether to also hire a job-promoting recruiter.

The committee also will compile an online survey for community members to take about what they’d like to see in the district’s next educational leader. For example, what would they like to see in a superintendent? Which characteristics are most important to them? Other questions are to be determined.

Also present at the meeting was Strutt, board members Jim Keffalas and Bill Halle, and former board member Paula Opalka.

Halle and Vavro expressed differing opinions on what they’d like to see in a superintendent. Halle said someone with a business background would be beneficial.

However, Vavro said he’d prefer someone with more of an educational background.

“I want someone who likes kids and wants to help kids,” he said. “We’re in the business of kids, and I think that’s important.”

They are hoping the online community survey they will make may better address some of those questions.

Strutt, along with Carolyn Cornish, assistant superintendent, and Cathy Rodgers, business manager, are all retiring effective June 30. Their retirements were announced in November.