The Katy ISD board of trustees reviewed the applications of 26 candidates for the district’s superintendent position, choosing six applicants for an initial round of interviews. The board of trustees met in a closed special meeting April 26 for three hours, said David Thompson, an attorney with Thompson & Horton LLP—a law firm hired by the district to conduct the search. “We had 26 total candidates, and had some very strong ones in there,” Thompson said. Thompson said the board first narrowed the list of applicants from 26 to 10 candidates. After more thorough review, the board narrowed the list to six candidates. The pool of applicants included candidates from 10 different states, including Texas, who had a variety of experiences—from being current superintendents to college professors—and was diverse in terms of gender and race, Thompson said. First-round interviews with the board will be May 10, 12 and 13. Second-round interviews are scheduled for May 17-18. The board is scheduled to announce their decision on the finalist for the job May 31. The new superintendent is expected to begin work Aug. 1. Superintendent Alton Frailey announced his retirement in January and his last day is set for Aug. 31.