MIDDLETOWN — Parents, business leaders and community members next week will be able to question the three finalists for superintendent of the Middletown City Schools.

        “The board is very pleased with the quality of the applicants,” said Dr. Mark Frazer, president of the Middletown Board of Education.

        After interviewing nine of 32 applicants for the position, the board on Thursday narrowed the field to three finalists who will each spend a day in the district meeting students, teachers, staff and community members. During the day, the candidates will tour the schools.

        At 6 p.m., they will meet with focus groups. At 7 p.m., the candidates will answer questions during a 45-minute public meeting in board offices, 1515 Girard St. Questions should be either phoned in before the meeting to 420-4656 or submitted.

        The finalists will be interviewed Tuesday through Thursday. They are:

        Tuesday: Dr. Stephen Price, superintendent of the Perry Local Schools in Stark County. He has been superintendent of the 4,800-pupil district since 2000. He spent 10 years in the Talawanda Schools, from 1978-1988, first as a teacher and then elementary school principal.

        Wednesday: Randy Stortz, superintendent of the Newark City Schools, east of Columbus in Licking County. Mr. Stortz has been superintendent since 1999 of the 7,000-student district. He has also been superintendent of the Wilmington City Schools in Clinton County and the Bay Village City Schools in Cuyahoga County.

        Thursday: Dr. G. Ronald Bickert, superintendent since 1994 of the Beavercreek City Schools, in Greene County. The district has an enrollment of about 6,800 pupils.

        Mr. Frazer said the board is on target to name a superintendent by the end of the month, replacing Wayne Driscoll, who retired last December after 30 years in education. Pupil Personnel Director Norris Brown has been serving as interim superintendent. He did not apply for the permanent position.

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