According to a press release, the United South Central School Board took action to name two finalists for the United South Central Superintendent position at the conclusion of interviews with five candidates for the position. The two finalists are Keith Fleming and Barry Schmidt.

Fleming is a high school principal with 11 years of experience as a secondary school principal at Southland Middle and High School in Adams and at Austin Senior High School. He also has three years of experience as a principal at a learning center, and nine years of experience as a social worker and youth counselor.

Schmidt has been a principal at Butterfield-Oden Public Schools for four years. He also has 12 years of experience as a physical education and health teacher in Madelia and taught at an area learning center in Worthington for five years.

The School Board will conduct a final interview with each candidate each day from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the board room at the school. The interviews are open to the public.

Parents, staff, students and community members are also invited to attend a session each day from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the school auditorium, where they can meet each candidate and ask questions of the candidate. People who cannot attend the 4 p.m. session can also meet the candidate at the conclusion of each finalist’s interview with the school board on each of the days.

It is planned that the School Board will discuss the finalist candidates at a special board meeting at approximately 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the board room. At that time, the board may take action to enter into contract negotiations with one of the candidates to become the district’s next superintendent as of July 1.