NORTH ADAMS — Wrapping up his most recent stint on the School Committee, Richard Alcombright had a parting message to the panel this week: "I would not have done it if I didn't love it all the time."

Alcombright, who said his farewell Tuesday at Brayton Elementary School, said he will continue to serve on the district's School Building Committee for the Greylock Elementary School Project. After a combined 12 years of service on the committee — he was chair for the eight years he served as mayor from 2010 to 2017, then won election to the committee in 2022 — he said it was time for new voices.

The newly sworn-in School Committee members include Mayor Jennifer Macksey, serving as chair, Vice Chair David Sookey, Alyssa Tomkowicz, Emily Daunis, Cody Chamberlain and Tara Jacobs. A vacant committee seat will be filled Jan. 13 during a joint convention of the committee and City Council.

Members of the North Adams School Committee give Richard Alcombright received a standing ovation Tuesday during his last meeting. He became committee chair in 2010 concurrent with his first mayoral win, served until 2017, was then reelected in 2022.

Growing emotional at times, Alcombright thanked the many teachers and handful of superintendents he worked with throughout his tenure and said he made many good friends along the way.

"I don't really know if the folks in North Adams truly understand what these remarkable leaders have given to the districts and the students they serve," he said.

He also singled out Macksey, the current mayor, with a special thanks: "For your leadership, your commitment all around to things North Adams Public Schools and for your bravery leading us to what will soon be the groundbreaking of our new Greylock Elementary School," he said.

During his years with the committee, Alcombright worked with various subcommittees and oversaw work on district finances, professional and nonprofessional staff negotiations, and the endowment committee.

North Adams will always be his home, he said, but it was home to so many others who have informed and important voices and "they need to step up."

He said he was disappointed by the negativity he saw on social media during the November municipal election, where he thought people spread personal insults and attacks instead of trying to create change. He said the election cycle was "fueled by the vitriol of national politics of the day."

"I see people on social media, hiding behind their keyboards, discouraging good and well-intended folks with good ideas from participating," he said. "So many uninformed or ill-informed people are sitting on the sidelines, criticizing those who try so hard to move our community forward."

Whether people had been in the city as long as he had or had just moved here, he encouraged people to get involved who have "good, positive, energetic voices that speak in the hope of bright future for the great city."

"To those folks: I need you, we need you," he said. "The city needs you to participate, bring your hearts, bring your minds, and bring your energy to the table."

He has certainly walked the walk: Alcombright has nearly 50 years of aggregate service in North Adams.

A former senior vice president of MountainOne Bank, Alcombright served on City Council from 2000 to 2009; was mayor from 2009 to 2017; served on the Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational District Committee from 1991 to 2009; as board chair of Berkshire Health Systems for seven years; as a Berkshire Community Action Council board member for six years; and as chair of Berkshire Opiate & Addiction Collaborative. He also served on the North Adams Healing Communities Coalition, the Attorney General Family and Advocacy Council, and the Western Massachusetts Advisory Commission for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

"And I'm sure I forgot a couple things," Macksey said after reading his resume.

"With gratitude, Dick, we thank you for your commitment to North Adams, and I wanted to thank you for all your stewardship, your guidance, hugging me when I needed it and kicking me in the butt when I needed it, too," Macksey said. "We will sincerely miss you."

"You won't miss me," Alcombright said without missing a beat. "I will be around."