U-46 official a finalist for Green Bay superintendent job

Lalo Ponce, Elgin Area School District U-46's assistant superintendent for administrative services, could be heading north of the Cheddar Curtain come July.

Ponce is one of five semi-finalists in the hunt for a new Green Bay school district superintendent.

The announcement was made this week by Green Bay district officials.

On Friday afternoon, Ponce took part in closed-session interviews with the district's school board, said Amanda Brooker, district spokeswoman.

Ponce is one of two semifinalists from Illinois, Brooker said. The other is Jack Baldermann of Riverside Brookfield High School in Riverside.

Ponce said he decided to apply for the position after being contacted by Glenview-based search firm Hazard Young Attea and Associates.

"The district's laid a good foundation for instruction," he said. "They've also handled their finances in a reasonable way. It seemed like the type of district that has a solid outlook for the future."

According to the district's Web site, Green Bay board members plan to announce their top three superintendent choices today.

Members of the community will have the opportunity to meet the finalists next week.

District officials hope to name a new superintendent by next Friday, Brooker said.

With 20,161 students, Green Bay's is the fifth largest district in Wisconsin.

According to district data, 37 percent of Green Bay students are minorities.

Hired under former superintendent Marvin Edwards, Ponce has served U-46 since 1993.

He is the only Green Bay candidate who has not held a superintendent position before.

U-46 interim Superintendent Mary Jayne Broncato and newly named Superintendent Jose Torres were both aware that Ponce was interviewing, district spokesman Tony Sanders said.

If selected, Ponce would start work in Green Bay in July.