BUTLER TWP — The Butler School Board appears to be on target to select its next superintendent by March 17.

That is the projected date the board has been mentioning since early January, and with the community advisory panel picked and ready to start its work questioning two final superintendent candidates next week, the projected date looks more certain.

The panel had an orientation Monday night with administrative search committee members to prepare and to get acquainted with one another. Each panel member submitted a question that could be used during next week’s interviews. A school board member will be moderating those final interviews with the panel.

“This decision is going to affect students now and for years down the road,” said Derek Gengler, junior class president.

Jennifer Hundertmark is a parent with three children in Butler schools: a senior, an 8th grader, and a 5th grader at Center Township Elementary.

“As a parent for 13 years in the school district,” she said, “I would love to see a superintendent find a way to reward effective teachers.”

Amanda Feltenberger of Butler County Human Services said she represents many groups, among them special needs and mental health.

“I was definitely excited about the opportunity,” she said. “To make any type of impact in our community, it takes a community response.”

School board members praised panelists for taking the time to be involved.

While the final round of interviews will play a role in the selection of a new superintendent, school board members also will consider the two earlier rounds of interviews by the three-member school board search committee composed of John Conrad, David Korn and Al Vavro.

That committee began interviews with superintendent candidates last week and conducted another round of interviews this week.

Board members Bill Halle and Jim Keffalas and Superintendent Michael Strutt also attended Monday night’s meeting.

With only five applicants for the superintendent position, Strutt said the board decided to interview all five candidates.

He admitted Monday night he was initially discouraged by the few applicants. However, Strutt said four of those candidates had initial interviews last week, and he said all those are capable of taking over his position.

The district is hiring a superintendent because Strutt is retiring at the end of June.

The board wants to hire the superintendent now because an assistant superintendent and the business manager also are retiring at the end of June.

Then the new superintendent can be involved later this year in hiring the new assistant superintendent and business manager.

Also on the community advisory committee are Leslie Osche, executive director of the United Way of Butler County; Alice Nunes, CEO of Butler County Children’s Center; William O’Brien, vice president for continuing education at Butler County Community College; Sue Shewalter-Brown of the Butler Junior Women’s Club; Scott Covert of Penn United Technologies; Jeff Mathieson, principal at Emily Brittain Elementary School; Gerri Paulisick and Judy Hansotte, Butler parents; and Dale VanLaningham, a teacher at Butler High School.