Topeka ? The Kansas State Board of Education plans to meet Monday to continue planning the search for a new education commissioner.

The Kansas board is working with the National Association of State Boards of Education to find candidates. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that association officials expect the search to take until next spring.

The board’s first meeting to plan the search was Wednesday.

Former Commissioner Alexa Posny was named assistant U.S. education secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. She takes that post in November.

The board has named Diane DeBacker, the state’s deputy education commissioner for learning services, as interim commissioner.