IPSWICH — Ipswich schools Superintendent Rick Korb is one of three finalists for a similar position in the Masconomet Regional School District.

After a dozen years on the job in Ipswich, Korb said he was intrigued by the "new opportunities and new challenges" of a different school system.

Different indeed. Masconomet is made up of three communities, Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield, rather than the single town Korb now supervises. So rather than dealing with one finance committee, Korb would have to appease three, along with three town meetings, three town administrators and three boards of selectmen.

At least one of Korb's current bosses, Ipswich School Committee Chairman Jeff Loeb, thinks Korb is well-equipped to handle the politics of such an arrangement, saying Korb's strength is community relations.

"We've had a lot more interaction with outside groups," since Korb was hired 12 years ago, Loeb said.

While his charges in Ipswich range from preschoolers to high school seniors, Masconomet is made up of only a middle and high school. The elementary schools in all three towns comprise a separate district, the Tri-Town School Union, headed by Superintendent Bernard Creeden.

Masconomet School Committee Chairman Lawrence Lindquist did not return a call seeking comment.

Whereas Korb inherited a massive building project in Ipswich — replacement of the middle and high schools — Masconomet has already been rebuilt.

The other two candidates chosen for final consideration are Harvard Superintendent of Schools Thomas Jefferson and Tyngsborough Superintendent Darrell Lockwood. Jefferson's name was advanced even though he's the subject of a probe by the state Ethics Commission into charges of conflict of interest.

Final arguments in that case are scheduled for February.

In terms of the number of students, there is little difference between Ipswich, 2,118, and Masco, 2,147, in the 2008-2009 school year. In fiscal 2008, Korb oversaw a budget of about $21.7 million, while Masconomet spent $26 million that year.

Korb is paid $152,000 a year in Ipswich; the Masco job was advertised in the $155,000 to $175,000 range.

Loeb isn't sure what the Ipswich School Committee will do if Korb gets the job in the adjoining district.

"We won't have that discussion unless and until we need to," Loeb said.

This is the second time in just under a year that the Masco School Committee is looking for a replacement for interim Superintendent Anthony Bent. The board was poised to choose between two candidates last May when one of them, John Doherty, the Reading assistant superintendent, withdrew his name at the last minute.

Korb said he didn't apply for the job the last time around because he felt there were things in Ipswich he needed to take care of, but he couldn't ignore the second chance.

"It's a great professional opportunity," Korb said, "in a great school system."

But he's still a little torn.

"I love Ipswich," he said. "I'd hate to leave."