As of Tuesday the school department had received 21 applications for superintendent, a number that interim superintendent William Holland will expect will climb by this Friday’s deadline.

“I’ve been on the road trying to get people,” Holland said of his efforts to find a good fit for Warwick schools. “I think we’ll have more thinking of applying.”

Holland said that most of the applications received thus far are from out-of-state candidates. Because of the high degree of confidentiality, as many of the applicants are working with a school system now, Holland refrained from talking about those interested in the job.

Also, to maintain that confidentiality, Holland said a small group including School Committee Chair Jennifer Ahearn, director of elementary schools Lynn Dambruch, Winman Junior High School Principal Joanne Pelletier, school business director Anthony Ferrucci, assistant director of curriculum Dr. Anne Siesel and himself would vet the applications. He said the committee would start the process next week, and he is hopeful of having a list of finalists in a relatively short period.

Holland’s goal is to have a superintendent on the job by the end of this year if not soon after the start of 2016. He noted that even after a selection is made, it could be some time before the candidate starts as they would most likely want to give their current employer sufficient notice.

Holland said his recommendation once finalists have been identified would be to share the list with the mayor and the Warwick Teachers Union. The next step would be public sessions where the community would get to meet and hear the candidates with the final step being interviews by the School Committee and a selection.

Holland, who was named interim superintendent when Richard D’Agostino retired on July 14, has sought to build a firm foundation for whoever will lead the department. He sees the department as having a good team, naming Dambruch, Ferrucci and Director of Secondary Schools Steven Ruscito. And he views consolidation of schools, which is scheduled to begin at the secondary level next year with the closure of Aldrich and Gorton Junior High Schools and Vets High and the reopening of Vets as a middle school as both a challenge and an opportunity for the incoming superintendent.

Since arriving in Warwick, Holland has maintained a vigorous pace, participating in teacher contract talks, consolidation meetings, preparing for the opening of schools and even attending Warwick City Council meetings where he introduced himself to council members.

“I feel like I’ve been here forever,” he said in an interview Tuesday.