The Katy ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to hire a Houston law firm to aid in the search for a new superintendent. The district will get assistance in the search from the law firm of Thompson & Horton LLP, which specializes in representing school districts, higher education institutions and other governmental agencies. KISD Superintendent Alton Frailey announced his retirement Jan. 12 in a letter sent to district staff, parents and students. Frailey will remain on the job until Aug. 31. David Thompson, an attorney with the firm, was at the school board meeting with Dr. Mike Moses—who is a staff consultant with the firm and specializes in searching for school superintendents. “It’s time to start recruiting,” Moses said. Thompson said the law firm was contacted by district officials on Jan. 12 when Frailey’s announcement was made public and the cost of the service is $24,000. The school district will pay all the expenses necessary for potential job candidates to travel to Katy for interviews, Thompson said. The process is expected take about five months and, Thompson said, at least 170 candidates from across the country will be solicited about their interest in the job. “We know a lot of people in Texas—and around the country—involved in education,” Thompson said. Moses and Thompson recommended having a superintendent on the job preferably by July 1 but no later than Aug. 1. “We will not bring you just our selected list of candidates,” Thompson said. “You will not only see every single person who applies, we will actually show you the names of everybody we reach out and contact to apply.”