MONROE - The two superintendent finalists in the Monroe School District won't need a map to find their way around town.
Monroe Business Manager Ron Olson announced Wednesday that Cory Hirsbrunner, the district's director of curriculum and instruction, and Jennifer Thayer, the dean of Blackhawk Technical College's Monroe campus, are the finalists for the superintendent position.
Both Hirsbrunner and Thayer emerged as finalists after four candidates were interviewed Monday. The other two candidates interviewed were Steve Smolek, school superintendent in Mauston, and Steve Sedlmayr, school superintendent in Alma.
Both Hirsbrunner and Thayer will go through final interviews with the school board on Monday, May 7.
Olson said the timeline on hiring will depend on the interviews and how comfortable the board is with naming the next superintendent.
"The next step would then be negotiating a contract," Olson said. "We may have a decision by the May 14 board meeting. That's not set in stone."
Hirsbrunner has served as the district's director of curriculum and instruction for three years. Before that, she served as principal at Northside Elementary School for nine years and was principal at the Monroe Virtual School.
Before becoming the dean at BTC, Thayer was the assistant superintendent for the state Department of Public Instruction for two years. She also served as the district's director of curriculum and instruction in Monroe for eight years prior that position.
Superintendent Larry Brown resigned in March to take the top post in the Rice Lake Area School District. His resignation is effective June 30.
Olson said there were 16 applicants total. Hirsbrunner was the only internal candidate.
Monroe Business Manager Ron Olson announced Wednesday that Cory Hirsbrunner, the district's director of curriculum and instruction, and Jennifer Thayer, the dean of Blackhawk Technical College's Monroe campus, are the finalists for the superintendent position.
Both Hirsbrunner and Thayer emerged as finalists after four candidates were interviewed Monday. The other two candidates interviewed were Steve Smolek, school superintendent in Mauston, and Steve Sedlmayr, school superintendent in Alma.
Both Hirsbrunner and Thayer will go through final interviews with the school board on Monday, May 7.
Olson said the timeline on hiring will depend on the interviews and how comfortable the board is with naming the next superintendent.
"The next step would then be negotiating a contract," Olson said. "We may have a decision by the May 14 board meeting. That's not set in stone."
Hirsbrunner has served as the district's director of curriculum and instruction for three years. Before that, she served as principal at Northside Elementary School for nine years and was principal at the Monroe Virtual School.
Before becoming the dean at BTC, Thayer was the assistant superintendent for the state Department of Public Instruction for two years. She also served as the district's director of curriculum and instruction in Monroe for eight years prior that position.
Superintendent Larry Brown resigned in March to take the top post in the Rice Lake Area School District. His resignation is effective June 30.
Olson said there were 16 applicants total. Hirsbrunner was the only internal candidate.