Three Washingtonians are vying to be the next superintendent of the Coupeville School District.

After meeting in executive session Monday night, the Coupeville School Board winnowed the 13 applicants down to three who will go through day-long interviews next week.

The finalists are Ron Franklin, superintendent of the King’s Way Christian School System in Vancouver, Wash.; Rob Clark, director of federal and special programs for the Eastmont School District in East Wenatchee; and Clayon Mork, graduate instructor and interim field supervisor at Western Washington University.

The Coupeville School District is looking for a replacement for Patty Page, who is leaving the district at the end of the school year. She accepted the superintendent position of the North Kitsap School District.

Of the 13 people who applied for Page’s spot, seven of them had previous experience as a superintendent and six applied from out-of-state school districts.

The finalists will visit the school district on May 14, 15 and 16, with each spending a day visiting with administrators, students, staff and residents as well as being interviewed by board members.

The public will have a chance to talk with each finalist during a forum scheduled each night. Those forums start at 6:30 p.m. and take place in the Middle and High School Commons.

Coupeville School Board president Kathleen Anderson said the board will meet in executive session on May 17 to hopefully choose a new superintendent.

“We’ve said all along we’ve wanted the right fit,” Anderson said.

Should the school board decide not to offer the job to any of the finalists, then the school district will find an interim superintendent and restart the selection next winter.

Anderson does hope the school district will find success with its current search.

“We’re looking forward to an end of the selection process and we’re hoping we find the right candidate,” Anderson said.