Administrators with Saline Area Schools are contemplating whether or not to hire a professional search firm to aid in their efforts to find a new high school principal.

Former Principal Ben Williams left in December to take a superintendent’s position at Central Lake Public Schools in Northern Michigan. Assistant principal Eric Diroff is currently serving as interim principal.

Superintendent Scot Graden and several Board of Education members said Tuesday that hiring a search firm might be a good idea, considering the board and administration are preparing to delve into the 2012-2013 budget as well as collective bargaining negotiations.

However, Board President Lisa Slawson said the district did not use a search firm to attract and hire Williams.

Regardless of whether a search firm is employed, Executive Director of Human Resources Curt Ellis said the process will involve an abundance of input from the public.

He described a three-phase approach that will begin with “profile development,” in which the community, together, will establish a list of qualities and requirements it would like the new school leader to have.

Students at Tuesday’s board meeting spoke up about what qualities they thought were important.

“We would really like a new person … who isn’t like the big guy that will get you in trouble,” said junior Kevin Fischer. “So you can relate to him almost and you feel like you can approach him with your problems.”

The second and third phases of the process will include a committee of school officials and community members narrowing down the candidate pool, followed by the board and various panels of teachers, students and parents interviewing the finalists, Ellis said.

Ellis said he will have more details soon about what the community can expect from the process. He added his department already has received several resumes for the open position.

Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.