Maghakian principal gives notice
BROOKLINE – Lidia Desrochers, principal of the Richard Maghakian Memorial School, is resigning at the end of the school year when her two-year contract with the school district ends.
A Derry resident, Desrochers had been an elementary school teacher and assistant principal before taking the top job at RMMS.
The post was her first as an elementary school principal.
The Maghakian school houses the district’s kindergarten, first, second and third grades. It was named for former, longtime principal Richard Maghakian, who died about nine years ago after suffering a heart attack.
Desrochers was the third principal at the school since Maghakian’s death.
According to School Board Chairman David Partridge, in a letter sent to Superintendant of Schools Susan Hodgdon last month, Desrochers said she would be “moving on.”
Partridge said Hodgdon read the letter to school board members during a closed session, allowed under state law to discuss personnel matters, just before the December school vacation. After returning to the public meeting the board accepted the principal’s resignation.
Partridge said Desrochers informed her staff of her decision after the winter break.
Desrochers is the second principal in as many months to announce a departure from the school district at the end of the school year.
Late last week, Tim Kelley, the Hollis/Brookline High School principal, informed the school district that he plans to retire at the end of the school year, finishing up after five years at the helm.
Desrochers was among a group of five administrators, including Hodgdon, who joined the school district in the fall 2008.
Partridge said the board plans to begin a principal search soon.
“We’re ahead of the curve. It’s early in the year,” Partridge said.
Asked if the assistant principal would step up to fill the vacancy, Partridge said no.
“It’s a whole new process. There is no automatic step-up,” the school board chairman said.
Desrochers said she would prepare a comment by e-mail but did not respond before deadline.
Hattie Bernstein can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 24, or hbernstein@cabinet.com.
