By Tuesday afternoon, Tonganoxie school superintendent Richard Erickson said he had received about 15 applications.

Erickson said he hoped someone would be hired who possessed qualities and goals similar to those of principal Mike Bogart, who is retiring at the end of the school year. Bogart has been with the district for 18 years, including nine years as assistant principal and nine years as principal.

“A lot of what I’m looking for is what I’ve seen modeled in Mr. Bogart,” Erickson said. “I’ve just been real pleased with the leadership that he’s provided at THS over the last nine years.”

Erickson said Bogart’s ability to lead people, as well as to get along with students and staff, have made him a standout in his profession.

And, Erickson said he’s been pleased with the initiative Bogart has taken in the development of new academic programs.

“I want somebody who has that same desire to continue that and to take our programs to the next level,” Erickson said.

The position has a starting salary in the $70,000 to $75,000 range, Erickson said.

Bogart noted it’s important for a principal to have strong leadership skills. And, he said, sometimes that means observing, not directing.

“It’s an age-old thing to stand out of the way and let good people do their jobs,” Bogart said. “I trust our staff enough to do just that — they’re a very good bunch of people. If you try to remove the obstacles in their paths, they will respond by doing more than what’s expected, in most cases.”

Although one of the applicants is from Tonganoxie, Erickson said it’s not a job