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Malkas Offered Superintendent Post in North Adams
By Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
08:21PM / Monday, April 25, 2016
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Barbara Malkas, superintendent of the Webster Public Schools, was selected to lead North Adams.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Barbara Malkas has been selected to lead the North Adams Public Schools.

The School Committee made the unanimous decision on Monday night after some 40 minutes of discussion.

Malkas, a Clarksburg resident who is currently superintendent for the Webster Public Schools, is expected to start this summer, pending contract negotiations.

Mayor Richard Alcombright, chairman of the School Committee, said the two finalists were both very obviously hard working, capable, knowledgeable, and committed to their districts, students and community.

"We are very lucky to have top-tier superintendents wanting to lead our schools," he said.

But the tie-breaker, in his opinion, was the enthusiasm and passion encountered for Malkas during the site visit to Webster.

"I don't know quite how to explain it, but it was a different excitement," he said, adding he'd heard the word "authentic" at least twice during interviews with Webster officials and faculty. "That's a powerful word to me ... it speaks to a lot of things."

Malkas and Acushnet Superintendent Stephen Donovan had been winnowed down from 10 initial candidates in the search to replace the retired James Montepare. The committee had planned to name a finalist immediately after Donovan's interview 10 days ago but held off because of the absence of committee members Heather Boulger and Karen Bond. Bond was absent on Monday.

The six in attendance shared their impressions of the site visits, which included about five hours each of interviews with stakeholders in those communities, and the candidate interviews in North Adams.

Committee members said they liked Donovan's creative budgetary planning and presentations, his community involvement, responsiveness, willingness to tackle any job and his communication style. They also pointed to his focus on upgrading security and commitment to early education.

Malkas was cited for her confidence, academic planning, communications, clear vision and morale-building and supportive leadership. She, too, was cited for safety, commitment to preschool and community involvement.

Both also came with excellent references and strong expressions of support from their communities.

The committee saw some difficulty in comparing the two districts, because Acushnet was preschool to Grade 8 while Webster was preK to Grade 12. Boulger said the strategic plan for Webster was very close to that of North Adams.

Tara Jacobs said she found Malkas' answers during the interview resonated with her. "I came away much more drawn to her answers as much as I feel they were both strong," she said.

John Hockridge noted that the enthusiasm they encountered for Malkas was very high. Nicholas Fahey, however, noted that Donovan had been in his post more than twice as long as Malkas, possibly indicating that the "honeymoon" phase had passed. Mark Moulton also liked Donovan's focus on security and integrating technology in the classroom.

It became apparent, however, as the discussion continued that Malkas had more support.

"Empowering and authentic was loud and clear to me during the interview process," said Boulger. Hockridge said a quote that stuck with him was "she handles difficult situations with grace but you always know where she stands."

Boulger made the motion to offer the post to Malkas, which passed unanimously by roll call vote. Alcombright notified both candidates, and Malkas accepted the post pending contract negotiations.

Malkas became superintendent of the Webster Public Schools in 2012. The district has an enrollment of about 1,800 in Grades kindergarten through 12 in three schools: Webster Middle School, Park Avenue Elementary and Bartlett Junior/Senior High School, which are level 3. The district's annual budget is about $17.5 million and it employs 230.

Malkas earned her master's degree from St. John University in Queens, N.Y., and her doctorate in education from the Sage Colleges in Albany, N.Y.

Prior to Webster, she was employed by the Pittsfield Public Schools as curriculum coordinator and then assistant and deputy superintendent for six years. She also was a teacher and assistant principal at McCann Technical School. Both Boulger and Alcombright said they had known Malkas, mostly from presenting reports, while serving on the McCann School Committee; Boulger, as executive director of the Berkshire Regional Employment Board, had also interacted with Malkas while she was in Pittsfield.

"Whichever candidate is chosen, he or she will be replacing an excellent superintendent in James Montepare," Hockridge said prior to the discussion. "I just wish the community knew what a great superintendent we've had over the years."

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