Mendenhall River Community School’s principal search will continue.

Nathan Coutsoubos, a Washington state principal, was offered the position after a recommendation from an interview panel, but he declined the offer, City and Borough of Juneau School District announced Tuesday.

Coutsoubos was one of two people who had a public interview for the position. The other was Kelley Harvey, a Title 1 teacher for Harborview Elementary School.

[A Juneau school could have a new principal soon]

Coutsoubos did not immediately return a call seeking comment about his decision.

Kristin Bartlett, chief of staff for the school district, said the position is now open to new candidates to fill the vacancy that will be created by current principal Kristy Dillingham’s resignation after the school year.

Bartlett did not say why the decision was reached to re-open the search, but that it was based on conversations between the panel of district staff, administrators and site council members and the superintendent.

“Sometimes the superintendent might go to the committee and have some further conversations,” Bartlett said. In this case, they decided to open it back up to other candidates.”

There is not a deadline for the search, but Bartlett said a quick result would be ideal.

“It would be great to fill it as soon as possible,” Bartlett said.

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• Contact Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.

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