The search for a new Champaign school superintendent is on.

Members of the Champaign school board have made the easy decision.

Now they have to get down to hard work and make the tough one.

The school board on Monday hired Robert Malito of Bloomington as interim superintendent to temporarily fill the spot created by the resignation of Superintendent Arthur Culver.

But that was no challenge at all compared to finding a permanent replacement for Culver, who will officially leave his post on June 30.

The board last week retained the services of Chicago-based search firm School Exec Connect to assist with the search for Culver's replacement. That is expected to be a fairly lengthy process.

Board member Thomas Lockman said that the board would "like to make an offer sometime near the end of the year or the beginning of 2012."

But it's a long way from here to there.

Nonetheless, the process is off to an encouraging start. Malito, the interim superintendent, has an impressive resume. Indeed, if he were not already retired Malito would make a good candidate for the full-time position.

There has been some grumbling about his pay of $1,000 a day for a maximum of 100 days between now and the of the 2011-12 school year. But, once again, this is the market rate — like it or not.

Witness the grumbling about University of Illinois President Michael Hogan's salary, and prepare yourself for anger over the salary that will be paid to the next UI chancellor and athletic director. The marketplace, not what some individuals think is reasonable, will determine the cost.

As far as the search goes, it's extremely important the public be kept apprised of its progress, particularly so when it comes to the finalists for the superintendency. Fortunately, Lockman said the board already has concluded that "it's most important to have the public involved." That almost certainly will require finalists to visit Champaign for a meet-and-greet.

Obviously, everyone will know a lot more later. The success or failure of a search can only be determined in hindsight. But school board members are off to a promising start.