Kennedy students, staff meeting with five principal finalists this week

The Kennedy High School community is set to meet this week with five finalists to replace retiring principal Mary Wilcynski.

Franklin Middle School Principal Shannon Bucknell and Aaron Stecker, associate principal at Kennedy High School, are the two internal Cedar Rapids Community School District candidates for the position. The remaining three finalists are Cynthia Schneider, principal of World Journalism Preparatory in Queens, N.Y., Brian Coppess, associate principal at Urbandale High School in Urbandale, and Jason Kline, assistant principal at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C.

The applicants are set to each spend a day at Kennedy meeting with students and staff, followed by a session with parents and community members. Schneider visited the school on Monday, Bucknell is set to hold his meetings Tuesday, with Coppess, Stecker and Kline slated for Wednesday, April 24, Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26.

Superintendent Dave Benson is set to recommend Wilcynski's replacement at the Monday, May 13 Cedar Rapids school board meeting.