Mehlville School District residents can weigh in on what qualities they want to see in the district’s next superintendent at a forum Thursday night and can learn more about the future of the district and the new strategic plan at the board’s annual retreat this weekend.

Residents can tell Brent Underwood, the Missouri School Boards’ Association, or MSBA, consultant leading the search for the next superintendent, what qualities they want to see in interim Superintendent Norm Ridder’s permanent replacement at the forum. The forum will start at 7 p.m. today — Thursday, Dec. 11 — in the Nottelmann Auditorium on the Mehlville High School campus, 3200 Lemay Ferry Road.

Board of Education members, who will select the next superintendent, will attend the forum. As of last week, Underwood reported he had 23 inquiries from candidates interested in the job, from five states.

The deadline for applications is Friday.

Parent, teacher and student advisory groups will meet with Underwood throughout the day Monday, Dec. 15, to let him know what they want to see in the district’s next leader.

The board is set to meet for the second half of its annual retreat at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Administration Building, 3120 Lemay Ferry Road. Strategic-plan consultant Marc Maness will give the board an update on the progress of the district’s strategic plan, and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Assessment and Professional Development Tina Plummer will give a presentation on the district’s academic test scores.

The board will also hold a regular meeting at 2 p.m. before the retreat to review new policies and, on the recommendation of Chief Financial Officer Marshall Crutcher, to consider revising the district’s policy on financial reserves to require a higher reserve fund for emergencies.