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Three men will vie for the job of superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the State Office of Education announced Wednesday.

It's a position that's long been mired in controversy.

The state school board has named as finalists for the position: Joel Coleman, a state school board member, chairman of the board's committee on the school and a charter school founder and trustee; Larry S. Taub, executive director of the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf & Center for Community and Professional Services in Philadelphia; and Karl A. Wilson, Utah director of Title I and federal programs at the state office and former state director of special education.

One of those men will replace retiring Superintendent Steve Noyce, whom the board decided in January not to reappoint for next school year. The board's chairwoman has declined to discuss why the board chose not to reappoint him, citing privacy concerns, though she has said there was no wrongdoing. Noyce was a target of criticism before he even started overseeing the schools in 2009.

Some parents have alleged Noyce favors listening-and-spoken-language instruction for children at the expense of instruction in American Sign Language. It's an allegation Noyce has long said is not true, saying the school has strived to help parents make informed choices about which path to choose.

The state school board will interview the three candidates on June 6 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the state office, 250 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City. The interviews will be open to the public and will include a deaf interpreter. The board plans to vote on its decision June 7.

Twitter: @lschencker