The subcommittee searching for Peabody's next school superintendent has narrowed down the field to three finalists and now turned over the reins to the School Committee.

The finalists presented to the committee Tuesday night are:

• Joseph Mastrocola, superintendent of the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District
• James Kelleher, interim superintendent of the Scituate Public Schools
• David Fischer, interim head of lower school grades 6-8 at the Salem Academy Charter School

Before heading to Groton-Dunstable in 2010, Mastrocola had served for four years as the assistant superintendent in the Peabody schools. That position was later trimmed from the budget.

School Committee member Tom Rossignoll, who chairs the search group, asked his colleagues for guidance Tuesday night in setting up site visits, interview dates and standardized questions for all three candidates.

Out of a pool of 17 that applied this time, the search group narrowed down the list to eight for preliminary interviews and then selected four as finalists, although only the three wished to remain as candidates.

Some veteran committee members, including David McGeney, felt it would be beneficial to the candidates, the School Committee and the community to have each finalist spend a day on-site in Peabody. That sentiment was met with unanimous agreement.

The committee agreed to set up site visits at each of the finalists' current school districts over the next two weeks. The three candidates will also visit Peabody's schools during the day on Feb. 6, 7 and 9, followed by dinner in an informal setting in a Peabody restaurant and formal interviews later by the School Committee.

The candidates will meet with parents, parent advisory groups, public officials and students during the day-long visit. Interim Superintendent Herb Levine suggested the students take the candidates around.

School human resources director Louise Genualdo said she would coordinate with the National Honor Society students on those dates.

While there was some hesitation and concern about the perception of spending too much on dinner, the overall conclusion from School Committee members was that most other districts typically outsource the search process, which can cost anywhere from $20,000-50,000.

Mayor Ted Bettencourt agreed with most of the members on interacting with the candidates outside of the on-site visit.

“I want to see the candidates in a social setting [preferably] in a Peabody restaurant…this would be appropriate,” said Bettencourt.

Committee member Brandi Carpenter agreed, saying it gives her a better “gauge” of the person.

“We are interviewing the CEO of a corporation. I don’t see why we shouldn’t see [candidates] in a different setting,” added Jarrod Hochman.

The School Committee will then take up the matter again at its next meeting on Feb. 14 and may or may not be ready to choose who to hire.