UPDATED 3:31 p.m.

Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A former state superintendent of schools could be involved in helping District 186 choose a successor to the retiring superintendent, Jennifer Gill.

“There will be a survey that would go out to your whole community, would go out to parents, would go out to community members, would go out to staff, and would even go out to students,” said Carmen Ayala, who now works for the Illinois Association of School Boards. “This is what your stakeholders are saying about what they want to see in your next leader.”

And that person could be a very good one.

“I feel good about the pool of candidates that we will bring to Springfield,” said Ayala. “It is a very desirable location, and Jennifer and her staff have done so well in really promoting the district and really elevating it to the standard where it is today.”

Responding to a question from board member Micah Miller, Ayala said internal candidates would be interviewed with the same questions as other candidates.

The Springfield board will vote on a contract with the association at a special meeting scheduled for Monday night. Ayala said the new superintendent could be here around New Year’s to begin shadowing Gill.