MONROE - Monroe School District superintendent Larry Brown is one of two finalists for the superintendent position at Rice Lake, about 60 miles north of Eau Claire.
The Rice Lake Area School District board narrowed its search from six to two candidates last week. Angelina Bua, the superintendent at Steward Elementary School District in Steward, Ill., is the other candidate.
Brown will be back in Rice Lake today, Feb. 15 for his second phase of interviews.
Bill Conzemius, serving as interim superintendent at Rice Lake, said Brown will meet with three different committees - staff and students, parents and administration team - as well as the school board for a second interview. Students will also conduct a school tour for him.
Brown said Tuesday that he chose to apply for the position based on a consideration of moving closer to family members.
In June 2011, Brown was one of seven candidates who interviewed for the superintendent's job at the Rochester, Minn., school district.
Rice Lake has a population of about 8,400 and the school has about 2,500 students, not much different than Monroe's school district, Brown said.
"For a superintendent in Wisconsin, all districts have many, many challenges. Rice Lake is no different. Budget concerns are a big part of what we do," Brown said.
"Moving a district forward, with the new assessments and accountabilities, requires a great deal of focus and how we think," he added. "The hardest part is leaving (Monroe)."
Brown has been superintendent of the Monroe School District for five years.
The Rice Lake School board is not following a prescribed time line, Conzemius said. He expects the board to meet tonight to choose one or possibly both candidates for reference checks and on-site visits in the next two to three weeks. Final selection will comes about mid-March.
The Rice Lake Area School District board narrowed its search from six to two candidates last week. Angelina Bua, the superintendent at Steward Elementary School District in Steward, Ill., is the other candidate.
Brown will be back in Rice Lake today, Feb. 15 for his second phase of interviews.
Bill Conzemius, serving as interim superintendent at Rice Lake, said Brown will meet with three different committees - staff and students, parents and administration team - as well as the school board for a second interview. Students will also conduct a school tour for him.
Brown said Tuesday that he chose to apply for the position based on a consideration of moving closer to family members.
In June 2011, Brown was one of seven candidates who interviewed for the superintendent's job at the Rochester, Minn., school district.
Rice Lake has a population of about 8,400 and the school has about 2,500 students, not much different than Monroe's school district, Brown said.
"For a superintendent in Wisconsin, all districts have many, many challenges. Rice Lake is no different. Budget concerns are a big part of what we do," Brown said.
"Moving a district forward, with the new assessments and accountabilities, requires a great deal of focus and how we think," he added. "The hardest part is leaving (Monroe)."
Brown has been superintendent of the Monroe School District for five years.
The Rice Lake School board is not following a prescribed time line, Conzemius said. He expects the board to meet tonight to choose one or possibly both candidates for reference checks and on-site visits in the next two to three weeks. Final selection will comes about mid-March.