The Katy ISD board of trustees is searching for a new superintendent following the announcement that Alton Frailey will retire this year.

Frailey has been with the district nine years. He announced his plans to retire in January and will remain on the job until Aug. 31.

The KISD board of trustees hired law firm Thompson & Horton LLP in January to help with the search to replace Frailey.  The search will cost the district $24,000, including all expenses for candidates who travel to Katy for interviews.

David Thompson, an attorney with the practice, and Mike Moses, a former Texas commissioner of education and staff consultant with the firm, are leading the search. Moses specializes in finding candidates for school districts seeking superintendents.

The school board established an April 15 application deadline for interested candidates and the district plans to announce its decision by May 31. The board’s target date for the new superintendent to start work is Aug. 1.

Thompson said he anticipated having a pool of 25 to 40 candidates.

While the KISD board established a tentative calendar for its five-month search process, it has not determined a preferred list of qualification for candidates.

Community members—including students, parents and faith leaders—will be nominated by the KISD board for a focus group to help determine what qualities residents seek in a superintendent.

Anyone who works as a superintendent must obtain a certificate, which includes several requirements.

Thompson said the open position would be advertised nationally.

A pool of candidates has been developed through visits to school administrator conferences and by sending letters to a network of between 170 and 200 people in Texas and nationally, Thompson said.

“I think we’ve gotten half a dozen full applications,” he said.