The search for a new superintendent goes into high gear after current Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Ramon Cortines announced his plan to retire in late December.

Cortines, 83, says he plans to retire because the position of superintendent exhausts him. Cortines was pulled from retirement after former Superintendent John Deasy resigned after months of controversy from the Board of Education over the building pressure of purchasing iPads.

“We need a smarter superintendent who, maybe even have kids of their own, and knows exactly what we want and how we feel about it,” junior Genesis Ocampo said.

The school board is hoping to pick a new superintendent by Jan. 1 and candidates are already starting to surface. After a series of forums were held and surveys were posted online regarding the ideal superintendent, LAUSD has an idea of what kind of person they’d like to be in charge of the second-largest school district in the country.

The results of the forums and surveys sent to students and parents show that the people of LAUSD are searching for a well-informed political leader and an accomplished educational figure. More than 8,000 people responded to surveys and a mountain of notes was compiled from more than 100 public meetings, which weren’t well attended by parents or community members.

The district says it will take into consideration the people’s desires.

“Our voices aren’t really heard. They say they are, but we’re pushed to the side. It’s not about us. It’s all about them and their money,” Ocampo said.