Dallastown Area School District officials have narrowed their search for a new superintendent to two candidates, and there's a 50/50 chance of hiring from within.

The candidates are Ron Dyer, who is assistant superintendent and acting superintendent in Dallastown, and Thomas Newcome, who's superintendent of Octarara School District in Lancaster County.

Dallastown school board member Don Jasmann, who is leading the search committee, said Newcome has worked in Octarara since 1996 and has been superintendent since 2003.

A "meet the candidate" forum will be held on Thursday, June 14 in the high school auditorium, starting at 5:15 p.m. The public is invited to the question-and-answer session, during which each candidate will answer questions for about an hour before a board meeting scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., Jasmann said.

Seventeen people applied for the job, and that field was narrowed to five candidates for face-to-face interviews with the board, Jasmann said. Three people were pegged as finalists, but one has since backed out, he said.

Dallastown's school board set out earlier this year to replace former Superintendent Stewart Weinberg, who resigned in February after the board asked him to. The board president later said Weinberg's philosophy was not aligned with board members'.

Jasmann said he does not expect the board to make a decision at its June 14 meeting, but the board hopes to name a replacement before July. Dyer is serving as interim superintendent in the meantime.

At next week's public forum, the public will be asked to submit written questions, some of which will be chosen and read out loud, Jasmann said.

The goal is to keep the discussion focused on relevant issues, like the person's qualifications and philosophy, he said.

At an earlier public meeting hosted by the search committee, only a handful of people showed up, Jasmann said.

"If we have that few, their questions will probably get asked," he said. "But if we get 200, it'll be a different story."

- Staff writer Christina Kauffman contributed to this report. Reach Erin James at ejames@yorkdispatch.com.