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NICHOLAS YOUNG

HADLEY - Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Young has signed a revised six-year contract and told Granby officials that he is no longer a candidate for superintendent there.

Young, 42, has been with the Hadley schools for 16 years and has been superintendent since 2001. He recently had been eyeing a change of employment, throwing his hat in the ring for superintendencies in Granby and Longmeadow. A major factor in his decision to stay was an outpouring of support from teachers and residents, he said.

"When I began thinking about the possibility of changing professional positions earlier this year, I had no idea that so many people would come forward to ask me to reconsider, so that, collectively, we could continue to make further improvements to the school district," he said in a statement.

A spokesman for the Hadley Education Association read a statement at Thursday's School Committee meeting saying that, "It is both an honor and a privilege to work for someone with such intelligence, integrity, professionalism and dedication."

Young said in an interview that he "could envision the possibility of staying (in Hadley) the rest of my career."

His new contract provides him with an incentive to do just that. It provides a "longevity stipend" for his final three years in the district leading up to retirement.

The new contract also maintains his base salary of $134,000 a year with a small annuity, extends his annual military leave from 10 to 17 days, and allows him to carry over vacation time from one year to the next. Young is a major in the Army Reserves and is up for promotion to lieutenant colonel.

In amending Young's contract, the School Committee considered average superintendent salaries across the state, said Chairwoman Tracy Kelley.

"Dr. Young is an exceptionally well-qualified superintendent who completed two doctoral degrees, numerous graduate degrees, and a Fulbright fellowship," she said in a statement. "In light of this, and the fact that he has developed such strong working relationships with the school community, we believe encouraging him to remain with us is in the best interest of the Hadley public schools."

On Thursday, Young will be honored as Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year at a conference of the American Association of School Administrators in Phoenix. He has increased his profile statewide by raising questions about the benefits of regionalizing small school districts.

The School Committee voted 3-2 Thursday to accept the revisions to Young's contract.

On Sunday night, Young informed Deborah Buckley, chairwoman of the Granby School Committee, that he had decided to stay in Hadley.

He said he looks forward to help "to forge an even stronger and brighter future" for the Hadley schools.

"There are a number of important initiatives that have been started over the past few years that I believe I am well positioned to continue," he said in his statement.