Four current and former public school administrators have been chosen as finalists to be the next Waltham Public Schools superintendent.

Four current and former public school administrators have been chosen as finalists to be the next Waltham Public Schools superintendent.

Waltham High School Principal Gregory DeMeo, Newton North High School Principal Jennifer Price, former Marlborough Public Schools superintendent Anthony Pope and Boston Public Schools Network Superintendent Drew Echelson were named as the four finalists during Monday night’s special School Committee meeting.

Interviews, which are open to the public, will be conducted on Friday, Dec. 5 starting at 4 p.m. at Waltham High School. All four candidates are slated to be interviewed, with the other three beginning at 5:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. There will be a 15-minute break at 7 p.m.

Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees Glen Koocher, who is assisting with the search, will contact the candidates to schedule interviews.

Initially, 28 people applied, but that field was narrowed to 10 and then four finalists, according to School Committee member John Frassica. An 11-member Superintendent Search Committee, selected by its chairman John Graceffa, was tasked with whittling the pool of applicants down to the finalists.

Acknowledging four interviews in one night would be difficult, Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said, “It is a long night, but an important subject.”

Graceffa, the School Committee vice chairman, suggested breaking the interviews into several nights, but that idea did not gain traction.

The search for a new leader began after current Superintendent Susan Nicholson announced she would retire at the end of the school year.

Process

Each candidate will be allowed a three-minute opening statement and a three-minute closing statement but will also have to answer questions from the School Committee, according to McCarthy. Candidates may also ask the committee questions and give a background summary of themselves.

Koocher said if any members, through their own research, learn information about any candidate, it may be discussed during a meeting if it pertains to job performance. If it relates to personal character, it must be discussed in executive session.