The South Whidbey School Board will meet in a closed-door session on Monday, April 25 to screen the applicants for job of district superintendent.

Superintendent Fred McCarthy is retiring on June 30, and district officials said today they expect the new hire to start work on July 1.

At next week’s meeting, board members will pick a slate of semifinalists for the position.

The semifinalists will be interviewed during a full-day session on Saturday, May 7, and the board will be joined in a non-public session by nine observers who will be able to give feedback to the school board during the day. The group of nine includes members of the district’s unions — including the South Whidbey Education Association, Service Employees International Union, and Public School Employees of Washington — plus two representatives from the district’s PTAs and two community representatives.

District officials said two or three finalists will be chosen, and invited back to spend a day on South Whidbey in mid May, meeting with district staff and community groups.

The tentative schedule for the finalist visits on May 17-19:

9 – 11 a.m. – Meet with superintendent and board member, breakfast, candidate tour of the school district.

11 a.m. – Meet with district office staff in the district office conference room.

12 p.m. – Meet with administrators in the district office conference room.

1 p.m. – Meet with bus drivers, maintenance and food service workers at the Transportation and Maintenance Building.

2 p.m. – Lunch.

3 p.m. – Meet with secondary teachers and support staff in the South Whidbey High School commons.

4 p.m. – Meet with elementary teachers and support staff in the elementary school library.

5 – 7 p.m. – Closed session interview with the school board, dinner.

7 – 8 p.m. – Meet with parents, patrons and community members in the school board meeting room.