The Ann Arbor Board of Education voted Wednesday night to hire Ray & Associates to lead the search for a new superintendent.

Hiring the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based company is estimated to cost between $21,000 and $24,000.

Board President Deb Mexicotte said the board had narrowed the firms down to two — Ray & Associates and McPherson and Jacobson, LLC of Omaha, Neb. — after doing interviews with the firms on Sept. 22. She said checking the references of each firm cemented the decision.

“While making calls on behalf of the district, it was indicated Ray & Associates were uniformly excellent,” Mexicotte said. “The references indicated that they’d be a great partner for the community and this board.”

Ray & Associates will be in charge of finding a permanent replacement for outgoing superintendent Todd Roberts, who is moving to North Carolina to be with his family. He will take over as chancellor of the North Carolina School of Science and Math. 

Robert Allen, deputy superintendent of operations, will take over on an interim basis on Oct. 9.

Representatives from the firm are expected to be at the board’s next meeting on Oct. 13.

Trustee Christine Stead said board members must let Ray & Associates guide them through the process and to let the experts do their jobs.

“The references I talked to said when they followed Ray’s advice, the process went well and was very smooth,” Stead said. “I would suggest we consider their guidance based on their experience and the outcomes they’ve had.”

Trustee Irene Patalan said she was reminded of something firm representatives said in the interview with the board.

“When they were with all of us on the 22nd, they had said their mantra never fails unless the board doesn’t use it,” Patalan said.

Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com.