CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Chicopee Superintendent Search Committee announced Wednesday their three finalists to lead the city's schools.

"The three candidates are Michael Richard, who is the current superintendent of the Union 29 Lee-Tyringham public schools, Marcus Ware, the executive director of strategic initiatives at the Windham, Connecticut public schools and Alvin Morton, current interim superintendent of Chicopee public schools," said committee member Kate Lambert at Wednesday's school committee meeting. "We are confident that we have shared with the committee three candidates that each bring with them varried experiences and qualifications required to become superintendent."

The search committee said they received 17 applicants for the position. After reviewing the candidates, they sent invitations to interview to seven applicants, with five of them accepting. Following those interviews, the committee decided on a final three.

The three finalists will have public interviews with the school committee later this month and the committee will also visit their current place of work.