A national search for Kent School District’s next superintendent has produced up 40 applicants.

District officials said Wednesday that the formal applications have been received by an executive search firm hired by the district to help with the candidate recruitment process.

The deadline for applications has been reached. Next, material on all of the applicants will be sent to the School Board, whose members want to review them before deciding which candidates to interview.

Interviews are expected to begin in mid-February. The hiring of a new superintendent is scheduled to be announced March 12, said district spokeswoman Becky Hanks.

Information about the applicants hasn’t been made public.

The new superintendent will replace Barbara Grohe, who plans to retire at the end of the current school year in June.

Ray and Associates, based in Iowa, is the consultant working with the district on filling the job that has an annual salary of $240,000.