CAPE ELIZABETH — The School Board will begin interviewing superintendent candidates in the next week.

Fifteen candidates from nine states applied for the position. The timetable for the superintendent search calls for interviews of semi-finalists this month before narrowing the field further. The School Board hopes to announce the finalist in mid-April.

Ken Murphy is currently serving as interim superintendent. Alan Hawkins retired as superintendent in December, after serving for five years in Cape Elizabeth’s top school post.