Callahan Named Finalist for North Adams Superintendent

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent Search Committee has put forward one candidate to lead the public schools: Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan.
 
The School Committee on Monday morning said Callahan, former principal of Drury High School, will be interviewed publicly at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, in the City Council Chambers. The session will be broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television. 
 
Should the committee approve, he will succeed Barbara Malkas, who is retiring this June after nine years as superintendent. 
 
Callahan has worked in the North Adams Public Schools for 27 years, holding multiple positions. This has included teaching English at Drury, director of curriculum and instruction and assistant principal, and more recently director of technology for the district and, since 2022, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment. 
 
According to a statement from the School Committee, Callahan was selected as the leading choice after an extensive national search and careful consideration of numerous qualified candidates. The district received applications and the search committee conducted five Zoom interviews. 
 
He received his bachelor of arts in English literature from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., a master of education from Cambridge College, and a doctorate of education in educational leadership from Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y. His core values include equity, creativity, and collaboration, and he believes in setting high expectations for students while providing them with high levels of support.
 
During the public session next week, Callahan will be interviewed by the committee members as part of the final
evaluation process. The meeting will also be accessible via Zoom video conference and the link will be posted as part of the public meeting announcement.
 
While the committee will not hold a "hearing of visitors" during this meeting, students, faculty, staff, families, and community members are encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time via a Google form here. Questions must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 17, to be included for consideration.

Tags: search committee,   superintendent,   

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North Adams Unveils Renovated Armory Basketball Court

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Two years after a sprinkler malfunction flooded half of the North Adams Armory's gym, and after a lengthy back-and-forth with the insurance company, the city has unveiled the gym's long-awaited new flooring.
 
Children, families, and elected officials gathered Friday to break in the court during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. While 9-year-old Noah Morrissey scored the first basket, the city obtaining the funding to replace the gyms flooring was a score of its own. 
 
When the city first submitted its claim to the insurance company, Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, it was initially denied, prompting the city to file another claim, Mayor Jennifer Macksey said. 
 
"We pushed harder on them. Then they came back and said they wanted to replace half the floor. How do you replace half of a basketball court?" she said. 
 
So, the city challenged the insurance company's vice president to visit the gym and to do a few laps on it, after which he saw what the paperwork couldn't convey: the gym floor had dead spots and ripples, meaning the entire floor needed to be replaced. 
 
The city brought in Dupee Flooring to help make its case to the insurance company for a full replacement. Once approved, the company installed a new subfloor to level the surface and refinished the court lines.
 
Following the $300,000 renovation, the gym now has layouts for three pickleball courts, one volleyball court, and a basketball court. It is also the home of North Adams Youth Basketball League and other teams from Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School in Adams and Buxton School in Williamstown. 
 
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