Less than 10 people were in Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners' boardroom at the district headquarters Thursday. It was a stark contrast to the past two months when meetings were standing room only as board members, parents and teachers argued about what is best for three city schools.

Some teachers will see their salaries go up by as much as $9,400 this year, a significant increase designed to account for years of recession-era pay freezes.

Days ahead of public interviews with superintendent candidates, Indianapolis Public Schools board members say they have three strong choices but they are waiting to release their names.

The application window closed on Friday for Indianapolis Public Schools' open superintendent position. The board plans to select a final candidate by mid-June.

This decision breaks with years of growing this model, district leaders say this does not signal a shift in policy.

A report presented to the Indianapolis Public Schools board says commissioners should look for a superintendent with experience in an urban environment, connections to Indianapolis, and a successful track record.

The district plans to hold at least three community input sessions before the search for a new superintendent begins.

One of the event's sponsors said he decided to host the event after calls during the November election for the district to engage more with its community.

The board released an update on the search process Thursday with public engagement as a focus. Former IPS Superintendent Lewis Ferebee was tapped as the new leader of Washington, D.C. schools late last year.

District staff will receive between a 3 and 22 percent raise.