HUDSON – Steven Beals can now check “principal of Alvirne High School” off his bucket list, as he was selected Wednesday to lead the town’s largest school.

A lifelong resident of Hudson, Beals, currently the principal at Laconia High School, was chosen as the next principal of Alvirne after a round of public interviews between himself and Kirk Beitler, principal of Raymond High School.

The School Board interviewed the candidates Tuesday night for roughly an hour each. The decision was announced Wednesday morning.

Alvirne Principal Bryan Lane will leave the school to become the superintendent of the Hudson School District, beginning July 1. Superintendent Randy Bell is retiring. Beals also will start July 1.

Beals was pleased that the School Board chose him to lead Hudson’s high school.

“Like anyone else, when good news is brought to you, my initial reaction was excitement. I was excited to communicate to my wife, my kids were very curious and waiting, if you will, for the news,” he said, about his four children all of whom attend Hudson schools. “Alvirne has always been a special place for me. I look forward to working more local; I look forward to leading a larger school.

Beals has been an educator for 22 years. For the past 12, he has served as a high school principal. He also worked as an assistant principal and a teacher, including spending four years teaching at his alma mater. He graduated from Alvirne in 1985.

While it will be nice working closer to home, Beals said there were other aspects of the job that were appealing to him.

“I have always had a positive feeling about my experience there, and that’s what I hope to deliver to students and working together with the staff members,” Beals said.

During Tuesday’s interview, Beals said becoming principal of Alvirne was on his bucket list.

Vice Chairwoman Laura Bisson took part in the interview process and said Wednesday that she is thrilled about Beals taking the helm of the high school.

“I think it’s wonderful that he had the unanimous vote from the board. I think that speaks volumes on how excited we are to have him be the leader of Alvirne High School. Furthermore, I think he brings vision and energy, as well as (being) student-focused,” she said.

While Beals is excited to lead Alvirne High School, he noted it was bittersweet that he is leaving Laconia high, where he has been principal for the past six years. He told his staff and student body Wednesday that he would move on at the end of the school year.

“I very much appreciated their well-wishes. Any time you have those, it helps feel like your work has been validated,” Beals said. “In a world where a kid says to you, ‘I’m happy for you because it sounds better for your family. I really kind of wanted you to be here for my senior year,’ I clearly get that and I value the fact that they can talk open with me about that process.”

Lane supported the School Board’s choice of Beals as his successor, adding he has known Beals for more than 15 years through administrative work at the state level.

“He is a dedicated person who really wants the best for kids and that’s what it’s all about,” Lane said.

Kate Minichiello, human resources director for the district, said Beals’ salary will be the same as Lane’s – $102,433, per the contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. According to the contract’s step chart, Beals will make $104,983 for the 2013-14 school year, which is a 2.5 percent increase.

Erin Place can be reached at 594-6589 or eplace@nashuatelegraph.com. Also follow Place on Twitter (@Telegraph_ErinP).