Lawrence school district administrators will interview candidates for the Central Junior High School principal position today.

Then a field of finalists will interview with a team of school staff members and an advisory committee of parents and students early next week, said David Cunningham, the district’s division director for human resources for certified staff.

The job came open at the end of April when third-year Principal Frank Harwood was hired to be the district’s division director of technology to replace Mike Eltschinger, who is retiring.

Administrators had said they wanted to test the waters to see who would be interested, even though the position came open late in the school year.

“The quality is there, and thus, we’re going to go ahead and proceed with the interviews,” Cunningham said.

He would not disclose the number of candidates, but he did say people who work inside and outside the district have applied. After the interviews, Superintendent Randy Weseman will consult with the school advisory committees and make a decision about whether to extend an offer.