The Ames School Board will use a Cedar Rapids search firm to help find the district's next superintendent. The board Wednesday chose Ray and Associates to guide the process of replacing Superintendent Tim Taylor, who will retire at the end of June. Ray and Associates conducted Ames’ last superintendent search in 2006. The board and search firm will meet soon to establish a timeline for the search. It's estimated around 70 candidates from across the country will apply for the Ames superintendent job. Tim Taylor's spent 26 years in the Ames School District, the last seven as superintendent.