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Nespelem School District is searching for a new principal and superintendant after accepting the resignation last week of John Adkins.

Adkins has held that office for five years. He has accepted the superintendent job at Wellpinit School District on the Spokane Indian Reservation, which serves about 500 students.

Nespelem, with about 150 students in preschool through eighth grade, is beginning a search for a candidate to fill the spot “with a strong likelihood of an interim” superintendent/principal, according to Rich McBride, executive director of the North Central Educational Service District, which is helping in the search.

McBride attended a special meeting of Nespelem’s school board Monday night. He said in addition to working with the ESD on the search, the board will engage Educational Consultants of Spokane to help with background checks.

The more typical season for such searches is October through December, McBride noted, and the hiring of an interim would place Nespelem “at the front of the pack” in that upcoming season, giving the district time for a careful search.

Adkins said he will miss the Nespelem staff but not necessarily the principal role.

“After 22 years in administration, I’m looking forward to just being a superintendent,” he said from his Nespelem office. “I’m certainly thankful for everything they’ve done for me here. I’m really going to miss the tremendous staff here.”

One of his first tasks at Wellpinit will be to hire two new principals.