School Board to weigh early start date for new principal Tuesday

LACONIA — The Laconia School Board will weigh the earlier-than-anticipated departure of Laconia High School Principal Jim McCollum at its Tuesday meeting. The meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. instead of its typical 6:30 p.m. slot. 

The board approved Lisa Hinds, currently an academic coordinator in the district, as the next principal at its Feb. 7 meeting. Hinds was initially slated to take over on July 1, but a letter of resignation from McCollum would make his departure effective April 21. Tucker could not be reached Monday for comment on the reason behind the change. The board will vote on whether to accept the letter and change Hinds’ start date Tuesday afternoon. 

McCollum has served as LHS principal since October 2021, when then-Principal Robert Bennet stepped away for health reasons. Bennet died from cancer not long after McCollum, a past LHS principal, stepped into the role. 

A redacted copy of board members’ packet of materials is attached to the online version of this story or is available through the district office upon request.