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Drury High Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian for 2023

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High School has named Evan-Quin May-Sims Goodermote and Morgan McLean Sarkis as the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the class of 2023. 
 
The Drury High graduation takes place Thursday at 6 p.m. in the school gymnasium. 
 
Goodermote, child of Brett and Tania Goodermote of North Adams, has taken a challenging course load including Advanced Placement courses and two dual enrollment courses in conjunction with Massachusetts College of Liberal
Arts. They were named to both the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies and received the
Rensselaer Institute of Technology Book Award for Innovation and Creativity. In addition, they were also a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.
 
Goodermote was a media studies intern in the Drury library, has a passion for reading and writing and performs slam poetry in their spare time. 
 
After graduation, they plan to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and pursue a career in the culinary arts field, with an emphasis on pastry arts. They are currently taking steps toward this goal by working in Williams College's dining services department.
 
Sarkis, daughter of James and Katie Sarkis of Stamford, Vt.,  is graduating with an overall grade average of 99.97 and has earned numerous accolades, including being inducted into the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies, receiving the Saint Michael's Book Award during her junior year, receiving the Principal's Award for three consecutive years, and the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Award. 
 
She has taken a full honors and Advanced Placement course load and has also completed three dual enrollment courses through MCLA. She has been an extremely dedicated and involved student during her four years at Drury, being a vital member of the varsity basketball team, Student Council and Student Ambassadors. She was also a peer mediator and is trained as a World of Difference leader.
 
Sarkis will be attending Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., in the fall, majoring in nursing and hopes to pursue a career in anesthesiology.

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North Adams Schools Talk Final Budget Numbers for Public Hearing

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The elementary schools will be phasing in a new math curriculum over the next two years. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee received the presentation given last week to the Finance & Facilities committee for the fiscal 2025 spending plan.
 
The subcommittee is recommending the budget of $20,357,096, up $302,744 or 1.51 percent over this year. This was expected to be funded by $16,418,826 in state Chapter 70 education funds, local funding of $3,938,270 (up $100,000 over this year) and a drawdown of school funds of $575,237. This will also include the closure of Greylock School at the end of this year and the reduction of 26 full-time positions. 
 
A hybrid public hearing on the budget will be held on Thursday, May 23, at 5:30 at Brayton School, with a vote by the School Committee to immediately follow. 
 
The extra $100,000 from the city will likely not be part of this funding package, warned Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the School Committee. 
 
"Going through all my process on the city side, so to say, with the rest of my departments, it's going to be really hard for me to squeak out the additional $100,000," said the mayor, alluding to a budget gap of $600,000 to $800,000 for fiscal 2025 she's trying to close. 
 
"I just want to be fully transparent with everyone sitting here, and as your School Committee chair, I don't know if the city budget is going to be able to squeak out that $100,000. That number will most likely change."
 
Director of School Finance and Operations Nancy Rauscher said the $100,000 had been a placeholder with administration understanding that it could change.  
 
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