The Fort Dodge Community School District is one step closer to finding its next superintendent.

Current Superintendent Jesse Ulrich announced his impending departure on April 1, when he was selected to be the next president of Iowa Central Community College. Ulrich’s last day with the FDCSD will be June 30.

On Tuesday, the district gave an update on the search for Ulrich’s replacement.

Search firm Grundmeyer Leader Services, of Ankeny, was hired to lead the search. The position was posted for applications from April 15 through May 9 and 18 candidates submitted applications.

The candidate pool includes three female applicants and 15 male applicants. Eight of the candidates are from out of state, six have a terminal degree (EdD or PhD) and 13 have four or more years of central office experience.

The FDCSD Board of Education reviewed the 18 candidates in a closed session on Monday, reviewing application materials, references, licensure verification and social media reviews.

Five candidates were selected as semi-finalists and will have screening interviews on Thursday.

According to the release from the school district, each semi-finalist will be asked nine questions in 30 minutes to evaluate their qualifications for the position.

Finalists will be publicly named soon after the screening interviews and formal interviews will be scheduled for May 19, with the School Board hoping to announce a hire shortly after.