School Exec Connect, the firm conducting the superintendent search for South Washington County schools, will present a list of candidates to the school board for first-round interviews at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the board room of the District Service Center.

The board is expected to interview those candidates beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, and it expects to announce two or three finalists that evening. From May 8 to 10, the finalists will visit with district officials, the community and the board.

The board hopes to select the next superintendent by May 10 and have a contract signed with the candidate by May 24. The new superintendent will be expected to start on July 1.

At its December meeting, the board voted 5-2 to give notice to Superintendent Mark Porter that his tenure would end on June 30. Board members cited ineffective relationships with his staff and poor communication and leadership skills in approving the dismissal. Porter had worked in the district for 30 years before being hired as superintendent in 2009.

Since he was given his notice, Porter has unsuccessfully applied for superintendent positions in Orlando and Seminole County in Florida.

To see the profile that the South Wash- ington community and board members created to help find the next superintendent, go to www.startribune.com/a1101.