NORTH ATTLEBORO - The search for a new North Attleboro High School principal will start in December.

Superintendent James Rice said the district will begin advertising for the post next month, with the expectation that a selection will be made sometime in March. The new principal will succeed Robert Gay, who has been at the school for nine years.

Gay initially notified the school department that he planned to retire last June. However, he later decided to delay his retirement until June 2010 so he could see several projects to completion, including the creation of a Chinese language course at the high school.

Rice said he plans to meet with focus groups of staff, parents and community members to help gain insight on the qualities they would like to see in a high school principal.

He has already posed that question to student members of a new superintendent's student advisory committee and he invited school committee members to offer their opinions, as well. Once the applications are in, Rice said a search committee made up of students, administrators, staff, parents and a community member will review resumes and interview candidates. The search committee will select at least two finalists.

The finalists will then be interviewed by Rice, who will make the appointment to the post.