The Board of Education has tapped an Iowa-based executive search firm to help it find and screen candidates for the schools superintendent position.

The board awarded a $50,500 contract to Ray and Associates to assist in its search for a replacement for Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, whose term ends June 30. The search contract costs are being covered entirely by a grant from the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.

The search firm’s duties will include “gathering input from stakeholders, developing desired traits and characteristics, conducting a national and statewide search, screening applicants, facilitating interviews, and assisting with communications related to the search,” according to procurement records.

The Board of Education’s executive director did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Despite receiving positive annual performance evaluations, the board announced last year that Matayoshi’s contract would not be renewed. The board’s chairman said at the time that the state has an opportunity to move public education in a new direction, citing a revised strategic plan and changes under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

Alex Harris, senior program officer for education for the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, said the organization believed the services of an experienced search firm was warranted.

“We decided to make this investment,” Harris said of the foundation’s grant, “first and foremost, because the Board of Education has never embarked on something quite like this, of this complexity. The superintendent position is a tremendously challenging job. It’s this sort of unique blend between being a state office and a school district, with responsibilities for policy making and setting as well as implementation as well as navigating the politics of the legislature, business, military.”

Harris said the group reached out to four national search firms that have performed superintendent searches for other school districts, and three companies submitted proposals. Ray and Associates eventually was selected after interviews with Harris, BOE Chairman Lance Mizumoto and board staff.

“The choice was not ours alone,” Harris said of the selection. “And we are not playing any role in advising the search firm or the process other than funding support.”

The board’s search committee plans to solicit applications between February and April. The committee — made up of three BOE members — is scheduled to recommend at least two finalists to the full board in May for action in June.

In the meantime, the board is soliciting public input through the end of the month on “desired characteristics” for a superintendent. The online survey asks community members to prioritize nine of 27 statements such as “demonstrates a deep commitment to helping all students maximize their potential”; “possesses the ability to enhance student performance, especially in identifying and closing gaps in student achievement”; and “is able to develop, improve and communicate strategic goals, objectives and a vision of high-quality public education.”

To take the survey, go to 808ne.ws/HISuptSearch.