North Adams School Committee Organizes; Finance Post Filled
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The new School Committee met for the first time on Tuesday with its four new members.
Mayor Jennifer Macksey, as chairman of the committee, presided over the meeting in her first public action. But she isn't the only mayor on the committee — former Mayor Richard Alcombright is also a new member, along with David Sookey and Joshua Vallieres.
They join Karen Bond and Tara Jacobs, and Emily Daunis who was elected to a full four-year term after serving a partial term by appointment.
(Both North Adams and Pittsfield elected former mayors to their school committees this past November, with Sara Hathaway being picked in Pittsfield.)
He hesitated on taking the role of vice chairman when nominated by member Karen Bond.
"I did mention to the mayor that I'm so happy to be back to be serving in this capacity. But I also think that leadership roles need to go to members who we want to groom. We want to groom leadership in the city," Alcombright said. "I mean if you folks want me to do it, I will, that's not a problem. ... But if there's someone who wants to do this, to extend their personal, professional growth through that, I would certainly certainly not be annoyed."
No one else put forward their name for consideration and Alcombright was voted in. Bond said she nominated him because of his experience on the committee, of which he was chairman for eight years.
"Mayor Alcombright, you'll be a mentor for all of us throughout the way no matter what position you have," said Macksey.
Alcombright was quick, however, to state during the Zoom meeting that there's only one mayor.
"Madam Mayor, you're the only mayor on this screen," he said. "So 'Dick' for these meetings is absolutely perfect."
Bond was elected secretary, although she, too, said she would step aside for anyone else wishing to do it.
The committee also filled an important financial post by promoting Nancy Rauscher to replace Business Administrator Carrie Burnett, who has taken another position. Rauscher has been administrative assistant to the superintendent for the last several years and has a background in finance.
"We had a failed search last month for director of finance and operations or school business administrator position," Superintendent Barbara Malkas said.
"We reopened the search and we redefined the job description to be a director of of school finance and operations."
She said Rauscher was "highly qualified" for the position and holds a master's in business administration from Boston University. She also has the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials training and is a fully licensed candidate, Malkas continued.
Her appointment was approved effective Jan. 10.
"I'm very excited and happy and thrilled to work with this new School Committee and the new mayor and to continue to work with Superintendent Malkas and the great team that I work with every day," Rauscher said. "I am hugely appreciative of the work that the person who I am replacing has done over the last couple of years. And that really factored into my enthusiasm and stepping into the position because I know the condition in which the office is being left."
In other business, the subcommittee assignments were set for the next two years:
- Negotiation subcommittee for professional staff: Macksey (chair), Bond and Sookey
- Negotiation subcommittee for nonprofessional staff: Daunis (chair), Alcombright and Vallieres
- Finance and facilities subcommittee: Macksey (chair), Daunis and Jacobs
- Endowment Committee: Bond (chair) and Alcombright
- Policy subcommittee: Jacobs (chair), Sookey and Vallieres
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