Champlin, on health leave, resigns as Laconia superintendent

LACONIA — It would seem the Bob Champlin era for city schools has come to an end. The school board accepted Champlin's resignation Tuesday night. Champlin has been on leave for a personal matter since April. Assistant Superintendent Amy Hinds, who was covering while Champlin was on leave, will continue to lead the district while the board seeks its next superintendent.

Champlin had been serving in the role since August, stepping into the top school district job after the unexpected resignation of then-Superintendent Steve Tucker. The board later extended Champlin's expected term of service through the 2025-26 school year, in order to search for a new superintendent. In mid-April, Champlin said he needed to take a leave of absence so he could attend to a health concern, and on Tuesday the district learned he would not be coming back

And so this, it appears, is how Champlin’s long tenure in Laconia schools will draw to a close.

Champlin started as a teacher in Laconia, then became a principal and was superintendent for 13 years before stepping down in 2013, at that time also for health concerns.

“The board really appreciates all the work that Bob has put in this year,” said Nick Grenon, chair of the school board, adding, “the board fully supports Amy in the upcoming year and has full confidence in her.”

Hinds said she has held her certification to work as a superintendent since 2006, and worked as an assistant superintendent in another district for six years prior to joining Laconia in 2011. She was first hired as student services administrator for Laconia High School, and has served as assistant superintendent since 2016.

Despite her credentials and experience, Hinds said she will gladly relinquish the title of superintendent once a long-term hire is brought into the School Administrative Unit 30 district office.

“I love my job as assistant superintendent, I love supporting an SAU office and supporting a superintendent,” Hinds said, adding she will assist with the search for the new supervisor. “I do not plan on applying for that position.”

Hinds was been covering both her usual duties as well as the superintendent’s tasks while Champlin was expected to make a return, but now that her term as superintendent is going to be a little more than a year, she said her first major task will be to create an administrative staffing strategy to get her through the next school year.

“For me to do both jobs on a short-term basis, it was a lot, but it was fine. Going into a full year, that would be too much,” Hinds said. She will look to see what duties can be covered by other district employees, what could be contracted out and what they would need to hire a new person to do. “There will be administrative support,” Hinds said.

It was Champlin’s goal to lead the district to a position of stability, so the next superintendent could be set up for success, Hinds said. “That would continue to be my goal.”

The board accepted Champlin’s resignation during a non-public session Tuesday. The board also voted to authorize Hinds to serve as superintendent through the 2025-26 school year, and for her to return to the assistant superintendent position for the following school year.

Hinds sent a letter immediately after the meeting on Tuesday night about Champlin’s resignation. In the letter, she told staff and families, “The Laconia School Board accepted his resignation, with regret, and sincere appreciation for his dedication to the District at their meeting this eventing during a non-public session. They discussed the next steps for the district and the importance of ensuring a smooth and effective leadership transition. The Board is committed to keeping our community informed throughout this process and updates regarding this process will be shared as they become available.”