A Look At The 2 Finalists For Mpls. Public Schools' New Superintendent

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On Monday night, you have a chance to meet the two finalists for Minneapolis Public Schools' superintendent. The district has been without a superintendent for more than a year.

The 11-member selection committee named Brenda Cassellius and Ed Graff as finalists for the job Friday night.

The committee had a pool of 20 candidates last week. They interviewed five semifinalists before naming the two finalists.

Brenda Cassellius is a familiar name because she has been the state's Education Commissioner for five years.

Before that she was superintendent of the East Metro Integration District which includes St. Paul and several suburban districts. She was also an associate superintendent in Minneapolis.

She lives in the city and has two kids who attend Minneapolis Public Schools.

The other finalist is Ed Graff. He has been the superintendent of schools in Anchorage, Alaska for three years. He used to live in Minnesota.

His contract was not renewed in Anchorage after the school board said it needed to meet aggressive academic goals.

He was also a finalist last month for the superintendent job in the St. Michael-Albertville school district, but did not get it.

He has one son.

The community reception for these two finalists will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Davis Service Center on West Broadway. All are welcome.

On Tuesday night, the school board will interview the two finalists.

The public will have a chance to weigh in next Monday night. And the board will make its final decision by the end of next week.