The Farmington school board has named four finalists in its search for a new superintendent.
The board, which received 29 applications for the job, will interview four candidates this week:
• Jay Haugen, superintendent of West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan schools.
• Rick Linnell, superintendent of schools in Pequot Lakes, Minn.
• Kelly Smith, superintendent of Belle Plaine schools.
• Rod Thompson, superintendent of the St. Anthony-New Brighton school district.
The board is expected to narrow the field later this week and conduct another round of interviews on June 28 and 29.
The new superintendent will replace Brad Meeks, who surprised many in Farmington this winter when he and the board struck a deal under which he will resign mid-contract. Questions remain about why Meeks is leaving, but the deal came shortly after the election of several board members who have criticized his leadership.
