With Klein ISD Superintendent Jim Cain set to retire from the position this summer, the district has named a search firm and will soon begin seeking public input on qualifications for Cain’s replacement.

The KISD board of trustees selected David Thompson and Mike Moses of law firm Thompson and Horton on Nov. 11. Beverley McGlasson, executive assistant to the superintendent, said the board received bids from multiple search firms before making the choice.

“We’re confident if there’s a qualified individual out there we don’t know, they [will] know [him or her],” board President Steve Smith said. “Their reputation is strong enough we believe if somebody is going to consider the job, [the firm] could get [him or her] to the table to talk to us.”

The board of trustees met with the search firm Nov. 30 to set up a timetable for the search process, McGlasson said. Thompson and Moses are in the process of recruiting and will soon send out letters to prospective candidates. Candidates within the district will be considered as well as those across the state and nation.

“I believe the recruiting is generally wide open,” she said. “They’re going to look at all the candidates that apply for the position.”

A select group of teachers, administrators and parents will be selected for focus group meetings Feb. 2 to discuss superintendent qualifications, McGlasson said. She said the district is also seeking input from the public online via the district’s website from Feb. 3-12.

Interviews will be held in March and April. The board will name a lone finalist April 18 before the new superintendent assumes the role in July.

Smith and McGlasson emphasized the importance of the hiring process to the district and the board.

“We all accept the fact that probably the most important thing a board ever does is to hire a superintendent,” Smith said. “You’re picking a CEO [who] is going to have a great deal of latitude on how he or she runs the organization.”