The Bremerton School District (BSD) narrowed its search for a new superintendent of education from six candidates down to three April 18 in the commons area of Mountain View Middle School.

After meeting with Dr. John Fotheringham, a search consultant with Northwest Leadership Associates on April 15, the board selected six candidates to interview: Thomas Churchill, superintendent of the Hood Canal School District; Terry Edwards, associate superintendent/chief academic officer of the Everett School District; Lester “Flip” Herndon, assistant superintendent of K-12 support for the Tacoma School District; Warren Hopkins, deputy superintendent of the Arlington School District; Mike Parker, superintendent of the Hoquiam School District; and Molly Ringo, executive director for K-12 education for Everett Public Schools.

About 20 community members and teachers showed up for the interviews as well as members of the Superintendent Selection Criteria Task Force, a group charged with helping the board in its decision.

The interviews began at 9 a.m. and the board met in an executive session at 5:30 p.m. to evaluate the qualifications of the six interviewees. After an hour-and-a-half of deliberation, the board made its recommendation and invited back three of the six candidates: Terry Edwards, Lester “Flip” Herndon and Mike Parker.

The three remaining candidates will return April 21, 22 and 23 for an all-day session which will include meeting with staff and parents as well as business, civic, city, religious and political leaders and a final interview with the board.

BSD will begin deliberating at 8:30 p.m. April 23 to make the final selection and could make its decision by 10 p.m.