Steve Beals, Alvirne High School

HUDSON – The apparent ouster of longtime Alvirne High School principal Steve Beals, who parents and students say has been reassigned to the school’s CTE program for the coming school year, has triggered an online petition opposing the move, and prompted parents to organize a Monday evening gathering on Beals’ behalf.

Jennifer Britton Nangle, who is co-hosting the gathering with Wendy Hennessy, said in a public Facebook post forwarded to The Telegraph that they urge Beals’ supporters to “come together to stand … in peaceful solidarity” outside the Community Center, 12 Lions Ave., where the Hudson School Board will meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

They ask participants to arrive between 5:30-6 p.m., and to “wear your Alvirne apparel (with) the school colors.”

While the topic isn’t on the board’s meeting agenda, Beals’ supporters hope that gathering en masse will bring to the attention of board members and Superintendent Larry Russell the widespread opposition to Beals’ transfer out of the principal’s office, according to the post.

It’s not clear what prompted the move, which the students’ petition called “moving (Beals) into a new position regarding Alvirne’s CTE,” or Career and Technical Education Center, which is named after Wilbur H. Palmer, the late former Alvirne educator who developed what was then the school’s Vocational-Technical program.

The post on the student petition, meanwhile, asks people to sign it “to show Mr. Russell and the School Board members that Mr. Beals deserves to continue as principal … .” It also indicates “this was not Mr. Beals’ choice,” and that Beals “does not want to move positions.”

The posts indicate Beals’ transfer was Russell’s decision, and those who have asked for additional information have been told “that this is a personnel issue that (cannot) be discussed.”

Beals, 52, who graduated from Alvirne in 1985, was named principal of his alma mater in 2012. He succeeded former principal Bryan Lane, who earlier that year was named superintendent of schools.

According to the School Board’s agenda for Monday, there will be an initial public input period on matters other than the school reopening plans.

Presentations on the school reopening process will then take place, followed by a public input period on the process.

The organizers of the pre-meeting gathering, meanwhile, strongly recommend masks be worn and individuals practice social distancing.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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