The Lindbergh School District has received 56 applications to fill the superintendent’s post being vacated by Jim Sandfort when he retires at the end of the current school year.

Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services Rick Francis told the Call he was very pleased with the number of applications the district received by the Jan. 15 deadline.

Sandfort, who announced in April 2006 that he would retire at the end of the 2007-2008 school year, has served as superintendent since 1991 — the longest tenure in the same school district of any superintendent in St. Louis County. To assist in the search to replace Sandfort, the Board of Education voted unanimously in February 2007 to approve a contract with Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The final cost for the search firm’s services will be $15,000, with a maximum of $6,000 for reimbursed expenses.

During a closed session Monday night — after the Call went to press — board members were scheduled to meet with representatives of Ray and Associates to review the applications and select candidates to be interviewed.

“Ray and Associates are going to present candidates and assist the board in selecting finalists for interviews,” Francis said.

Board members were scheduled to begin interviewing candidates during a closed session tonight — Jan. 31 — at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac. Additional closed sessions to interview candidates are scheduled Saturday, Feb. 2; Monday, Feb. 4; and Tuesday, Feb. 5.

The board remains “on track” to announce the hiring of the new superintendent in mid-February, Francis said.

The new superintendent will receive a compensation package, including salary and benefits, in the range of $210,000. The final salary will be negotiated and determined based upon the candidate’s proven experience, qualifications and ability to meet criteria established by the board.

Sandfort is being paid $197,938 for the 2007-2008 school year. He also receives additional benefits, including paid family insurance and a monthly travel allowance.

Sandfort has been involved in school ad-ministration for roughly 35 years.

Besides his tenure in Lindbergh, he served as an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and administrative services at the Parkway School District for five years, as a high-school principal in Shawnee Mission East High School in Kansas for 14 years and as an associate principal in instruction at Shawnee Mission South High School in Kansas for one year.