HADLEY - Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Young signed a new contract Monday morning, ending speculation that he might become superintendent in Granby.

"I have a six-year contract and I intend to fulfill that contract, and I could envision the possibility of staying in Hadley the rest of my career," he said.

Statements of support from teachers and residents were "a major factor" in his decision to stay in Hadley, he said.

Young, 42, has been Hadley superintendent since 2001. He said he spoke Sunday night to Deborah Buckley, chairwoman of the Granby School Committee, about his decision to stay in his current job.

"I thanked her and the teachers for allowing me to be a candidate," he said. "They were very gracious."

Young's new contract does not change his salary, which is currently $126,000 a year and will increase to $134,000 in July. It provides a small annuity, allows him to carry vacation time from one year to the next, offers a longevity stipent in his final three years if he remains superintendent in the long term, and increases his annual military leave from 10 to 17 days, he said.

Young, a major in the Army Reserves, is up for promotion to lieutenant colonel, he said.

On Thursday, Young will be honored as Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators at a conference in Phoenix.