The search for new permanent principal for the James Fitzgerald Elementary School is progressing.

The Waltham Public Schools District has started seeking applications for the position, which are due Feb. 8, according to interim superintendent Anne Marie Carr-Reardon.

The district is seeking to replace former principal Alice Shull, who retired last June. Former Waltham teacher Charles McInnis is serving as the acting principal until the end of the year.

Officials are hoping this search process turns out better than the prior two. After Shull announced her retirement, the district conducted a search, but former superintendent Peter Azar, who was then still in his job, was not satisfied with the results, according to School Committee Vice Chairman Harold Walker. The vice chairman could not recall why Azar was unhappy with the field of candidates. As a result, a second search was conducted, with similar results, Walker said,. It was only then that McInnis was chosen as an interim principal. Walker said he does not expect the same results during the current search.

“We’re anticipating getting very good response,” he said. “We think there will be a lot of good candidates that will step forward.”