Six educators who want to be interim superintendent of San Juan Island's public schools will be interviewed by the school board Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. in the Friday Harbor High School library.

Two finalists will be selected; they will meet the public Monday and Tuesday, 5-6 p.m., in a forum in the Friday Harbor Middle School Commons. The final selection will be made by the school board in an open public meeting, the time and day to be announced.

The interim superintendent will succeed Michael Soltman, who is leaving to become superintendent of the Vashon Island School District. He or she will be paid between $100,000 and $120,000 in salary and benefits.

The candidates are, in order of interview: Larry Johnson, superintendent, Darrington School District; Desiree Gould, superintendent, Skykomish School District; Walter Wegener, student services coordinator, Toppenish School District; Robert Allen, former superintendent, Elkton School District, Oregon; Dennis Carlson, superintendent, Lynden School District; and Robert Anderson, former superintendent, Fort Benton School District, Montana.

Seventeen candidates applied for the position. The school board selected the six semi-finalists in a special school board meeting May 9.

"This will be an open public meeting and the community is welcome to observe," said Maude Cumming, executive assistant to the superintendent. "Qualifications of the candidates will be discussed by the board in executive session that will be held from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. and the two finalists will be selected in the re-convened public meeting at 4:30 p.m."

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