Niles Community Schools is delaying its search for a permanent replacement for its superintendent position until later this year.

Interim Supt. Kevin Ivers said Monday the board would likely hire Michael Lindley to fill in as a full time interim for the remainder of this school year and the next school year.

Ivers is currently splitting his duties between Niles and the Berrien Regional Education Services Agency, where he is also superintendent.

“I can’t devote the time that is necessary to move the district forward,” he said.

Lindley is a veteran education administrator with more than 20 years experience as a central office administrator, including most recently serving as superintendent of New Buffalo Area Schools for 18 years.

On Monday, the board unanimously agreed to enter into contract negotiations with Lindley to serve as interim until the board finds a full time replacement for former Supt. Richard Weigel, who resigned last month.

The board explained its reasoning for delaying the process in a press release distributed to the media after Monday’s regular meeting.

“During our conversations with the Michigan Leadership Institute, it became clear that the most qualified educational leaders seeking new positions for the 2014-15 school year were already committed to other schools,” said Kathy Zeider, board president, in a press release. “For that reason, we believe it is in the best interest of our school community to delay the search until later this fall.”

For more on this story, read Wednesday’s edition of the Niles Daily Star.