The interviews will be held in open meetings beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the district headquarters, 915 Fourth St. N.E. From the six candidates, the board will select finalists for more in-depth meetings with the community next week.

Today the board will interview Dennis Carlson, superintendent of Lynden, Whatcom County, School District; Mark Davidson, deputy superintendent of Federal Way schools; and Michael Newman, associate superintendent for Auburn schools. On Tuesday it interviewed Patricia Adams, superintendent of St. Helens, Ore., School District; Elaine Beraza, director of Department of Defense Domestic Elementary and Secondary Schools; and Dennis Herren, deputy superintendent for Auburn schools.

Only the school board members are allowed to question the candidates. Each interview is expected to take 11/2 hours. Board members had considered holding the interviews in a closed-door meeting along with a select group of community members. They decided last week to open the interviews to the general public.

Mike Archbold, The News Tribune