Beatrice school officials hope to name an interim superintendent soon to replace Superintendent Jon “Tommy” Lopez, who died last week.

District board President Tobias Tempelmeyer says the search for an interim superintendent will begin immediately and may include candidates inside and outside the district. The board members hope to make their selection in the next 10-14 days.

Tempelmeyer says the interim superintendent likely will remain in charge for the rest of the school year and that a permanent replacement will take over in fall 2013.

Lopez was 48 and had been superintendent since July 2010. Lopez died Friday after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.

Tempelmeyer says the loss of Lopez is a “huge blow to the district.”