By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill. – Illinois' schools superintendent, Robert Schiller, asked for and was placed on a leave of absence Monday morning.
Plans are underway to replace him. The leave will run until September 30th.
The new Illinois Board of Education that was appointed by Governor Rod Blagojevich named Randy Dunn, an instructor at SIU-Carbondale, as the interim state superintendent.
Brenda Holmes, a newly appointed member of the board, says Schiller "absolutely" will be replaced. She says the governor's office recommended Dunn for the interim job, but she doesn't know whether Dunn is likely to become the permanent superintendent.
Schiller has nearly a year left on his contract with the board. Board members authorized negotiating a deal for him to set aside with a maximum payment of $160,000.