NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee plans to cast a wide net in its search for a new superintendent. 

 

Superintendent Barbara Malkas, hired in 2016, will retire at the end of the school year. On Tuesday, she presented her last Superintendent's Award to Drury High senior Colin Daly before the committee launched into a lengthy discussion of how to replace her. 

 

"This singular honor is conferred annually by the superintendent of the North Adams public schools to a Drury High School senior who has distinguished themselves in the pursuit of academic excellence," she said as Daly joined her at the podium at Brayton Elementary School. 

 

He has been inducted into both the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies, was awarded the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal of Distinction last year, and has received the Principal's Award for having one of the top five averages in his class for four years.

 

Daly has been an integral part of the soccer and basketball teams, has been an altar server at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish for the past nine years, is an active Student Ambassador, and has held a part-time job throughout high school. 

 

"Colin has been an academic leader at Drury throughout his high school career, and his participation in athletics and service to the community demonstrates his commitment to improving himself and helping those around him," said Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan. "Colin is an exemplary student and is highly regarded by his peers."

 

Daly, in a statement, said Drury had given him many experiences but what he "enjoyed most was the ability to be what I wanted to be when it came to my education."