School administrators yearning to earn $90,000 a year have less than two weeks to apply for the principalâÂÂs job at Lawrence High School.

Mary Rodriguez, the districtâÂÂs executive director of human resources, said 25 to 30 people had already expressed interest in being hired as the top administrator at LHS.

âÂÂI think thatâÂÂs a good number,â she said.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 20 for a job that pays a maximum of $90,000 plus benefits. The goal is to select a replacement for Principal Dick Patterson by February. Patterson plans to retire from the district in May.

His career in education began in 1962 and includes eight years as assistant principal and principal at LHS.

Rodriguez said the district had advertised nationally for the LHS slot. A key goal has been to attract candidates with prior experience as a high school principal.

âÂÂThatâÂÂs what weâÂÂre going to be looking for,â she said.

Meanwhile, the hunt for a new principal of West Junior High School, 2700 Harvard Road, is about one month behind the LHS search. Principal Mick Lowe also will step down at the end of the 2002-2003 school year. HeâÂÂs been WestâÂÂs principal for the past 18 years.

Rodriguez said the salary for the West job was $77,000 plus benefits.

A committee of district administrators will review LHS candidates and conduct initial interviews in early January.

An ad hoc group of LHS staff, parents and students will review the list of finalists and make a recommendation to the school board in February.

The process for selecting the West principal will be similar, Rodriguez said.

She said there likely would be more applications for the junior high opening than the high school position.

âÂÂIf you look at the job descriptions, theyâÂÂre similar,â Rodriguez said. âÂÂBut the junior high is a smaller environment. ItâÂÂs the number of people youâÂÂre working with.âÂÂ

âÂÂ:quot; Staff writer Tim Carpenter can be reached

at 832-7155.