FARMINGTON — Regional School Unit 9 directors have hired the Maine School Management Association to screen applicants for a superintendent to succeed Tom Ward, who is retiring June 30.

The association will check applications for qualifications and necessary certifications.

The position was posted Feb. 2.

Several potential applicants have contacted the association for application packets, RSU 9 Director Tami Labul, chairwoman of the board’s Administrator Evaluation Committee, said Thursday.

The application deadline is Feb. 23. All applications are going to the association, not the district or board of directors.

The committee hopes to conduct first interviews the second week of March, Labul said.

An interview committee will be composed of members of the Administrator Evaluation Committee and stakeholders, including community members, parents, teachers, administrators and support staff.

A survey will be released for people to indicate the qualities they would like to see in a new superintendent, she said. The survey will be available on the district’s website and Facebook page. Paper copies will be available at libraries and town offices, Labul said.

The board’s Administrator Evaluation Committee also plans to visit schools in the district to get input from staff. Those meetings began Thursday.

The hope is to recommend a candidate to the full board in April, Labul said.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net