Austin Public Schools has announced its six preliminary candidates for superintendent.

Candidates include:

Don Hainlen, superintendent of Chatfield Public Schools, Chatfield, Minn.

Deborah Clark, superintendent of Zion-Benton Township High School, Zion, Ill.

Mark Sleeper, superintendent of Princeton Public Schools, Princeton, Minn.

David Krenz, superintendent of La Crescent-Hokah Public Schools, La Crescent, Minn.

Gregory Schmidt, superintendent of MACCRAY Public Schools, Clara City, Minn.

Julie Espe, executive director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, St. Cloud Area School District, St. Cloud, Minn.

The candidates have been scheduled for interviews Tuesday and Wednesday.

On the agenda for Tuesday are: Hainlen, 4 p.m.; Clark, 5:30 p.m.; and Sleeper, 7 p.m.

Scheduled for Wednesday are: Krenz, 4 p.m.; Schmidt, 5:30 p.m.; and Espe, 7 p.m.

A discussion will follow interviews at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, when top choices for finalists will be recommended; three will be chosen.

Question-and answer-sessions will be held for each of the three finalists in Christgau Hall at Austin High School. Final interviews will be held in the school board conference room, with one candidate featured each day Tuesday, Dec. 16, Wednesday, Dec. 17 and Thursday, Dec. 18.

The schedule for each evening is: Q & A with certified and non-certified staff, 3-4 p.m.; Q & A with community, 5-6 p.m.; and final interview, 7:30 p.m.

The district plans to negotiate a contract with their choice the week of Dec. 22; the school board is scheduled to take action on the superintendent’s contract in the beginning of January.

The new superintendent will assume duties July 1.

Bruce Anderson is serving as the district’s interim superintendent, a one-year position. He replaced Candace Raskin, who left in July to take a position at Minnesota State University, Mankato.