Interim Superintendent's Community Update, September...

  Superintendent Search Update, Attendance Is Important, & AHS Student Designs Winning Logo Dear Albany Community, This week was short but busy. Students are settling into their classrooms and as the new becomes the everyday, the focus tightens onto learning. On Thursday, Albany Middle School’s Back To School Night was packed! There was a performance by the AMS Jazz Band (pictured above) along with a PTA meeting before parents visited classrooms, and the evening ended with both a Fall Sports Meeting and a Cobra Theater Company Meeting! AMS has a lot going on for students and parents. Superintendent Search Update I want to thank the entire AUSD community for their enthusiastic participation in the engagement phase of the superintendent search. Over 650 surveys were completed, with staff, parents, and students represented. This is an unusually high participation rate for a district this size. For those who preferred a group experience, we offered 19 group input sessions. 65 people participated in these face-to-face meetings. Based on this input regarding the desired characteristics of the next superintendent, a  position description  was created. Over 17 applications have been received, and we are expecting more before the application window closes later today.  The Board of Education will meet this month in closed session to narrow the field to a handful of finalists to interview in person. AUSD is well on the way to finding a new permanent Superintendent.  Attendance Is Important  Here are some facts from the  National Center for Education Statistics : Students who are absent more than 18 days of school are less proficient in reading, writing, and math compared to their peers with good attendance. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear as early as first grade. Students who do not learn the fundamentals of reading, writing and math by third grade are more likely to fall behind and are less likely to graduate high school. ( Attendance Works Brief ) Of course, if your student is ill, they should stay home. For other circumstances that arise, please consider how quickly “now and then” absences add up and the inadvertent negative impact on learning they may cause.  AHS Student Designs Winning Logo Richmond’s GRIP organization has selected AHS senior Kate Gough’s logo submission for their 38th Annual Harmony Walk. Congratulations to Kate, whose lovely design was selected over those of graphic design professionals. Please see  this article  describing the charity walk, Kate’s design and her design process, along with quotes from AHS Graphic Design teacher Jeff Castle.  Important Dates Sept 11:  AHS Back-To-School Night, 7–9pm Sept. 15:   Celebración Latina , 2–6pm, AMS Courtyard Upcoming Board of Education Meetings All  Board of Education meeting  agendas are published in advance of the meeting. Access agendas at the link above, or through the  AUSD Events Calendar .  Sept. 10:  Regular Meeting, 7pm, Albany City Hall Sept. 18:  Special Closed Session, 6:30pm, AUSD District Office  Have a great weekend,  Donald Evans, Ed.D. Interim Superintendent Albany Unified School District ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, Sep 06 2024

Interim Superintendent's Community Update, August 30...

  It’s Time To Get Involved! Dear Albany Community, This week has been a whirlwind! At the elementary  Back To School Nights  that took place yesterday, parents gathered for general announcements from the principal and then went to their child’s classroom. In the Ocean View classroom presentation pictured above, parents sat at their child’s desk while the teachers introduced themselves and went over classroom practices for the year. Throughout the evening, parents took a moment to greet friends and introduce themselves to other parents. In the coming weeks, Albany Middle School (Sept. 5) and Albany High School (Sept. 11) will have their Back To School Nights. Students benefit when their families engage with their school . September Is The Time To Get Involved! In addition to the  Back To School Nights , there are many ways to stay involved in your child’s education. Not only does this help your child, but it strengthens the school community for all students. An unexpected benefit may be the friends that you will make.  PTAs And The High School’s PTSA Please join your school’s  PTA or PTSA ; membership fees are low and the PTAs bring incredible events to each of the schools. They are truly essential—many of the fond memories our students have of school are from PTA-sponsored activities or much-needed gifts PTAs have donated. School Site Council Did you know that there is a group at each school that works with the principal and teachers to determine how state funds will be spent to improve the academic success of the students who are not meeting state standards? Yes! It is called the School Site Council (SSC). The Site Councils are each principal’s go-to advisory group and will be pivotal in determining actions to help students. Consider running for a position on the Site Council. Affinity Groups and Parent Engagement Groups As a parent or guardian, you might like to connect with a particular affinity group that reflects your identity and/or your interests.  These groups  are parent-formed and parent-led. They organize events to create community and often sponsor special graduation/promotion events at the end of the school year. If you don’t see the group you’d like to join, then create it! We are happy to announce the formation of a new group, the Southwest Asian & North African (SWANA) Parent Engagement Group! Important Dates Sept. 2:  Labor Day Holiday, no school, all offices closed Sept. 4:  College Application Night for Seniors and Families, 7–8:30pm, Zoom webinar Sept. 5:  AMS Back-To-School Night, 6:30–8:10pm Sept 11:  AHS Back-To-School Night, 7–9pm Upcoming Board of Education Meetings All  Board of Education meeting  agendas are published in advance of the meeting. Access agendas at the link above, or through the  AUSD Events Calendar .  Sept. 10:  Regular Meeting, 7pm, Albany City Hall Sept. 18:  Special Closed Session, 6:30pm, AUSD District Office  (There will be an opportunity for the public to comment on closed session items before the Board convenes into closed session.) Have a great weekend,  Donald Evans, Ed.D. Interim Superintendent Albany Unified School District ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, Aug 30 2024

Interim Superintendent's Community Update, August 23...

  Attendance Matters, Climbing Wall, and Superintendent Search Dear Albany Community, The  new elementary schedule  was launched this week and it went smoothly. I thank all the parents who helped out by parking a block away or those who used active transportation (walking, scootering, or biking) to get to and from school.  Not everyone can walk or bike, but everyone can be mindful of drop-off zones where there is no parking, and of school neighbors’ driveways that should never be blocked.  Attendance Matters What element of the primary grades is so important that it may affect students through graduation? I think the best answer is daily attendance. Students who establish the habit of going to school every single day (unless, of course, they are ill) have an advantage both academically and socio-emotionally over students whose attendance is spotty. Because learning is cumulative and lessons build on each other, daily attendance is crucial to student learning. Being absent, even for elementary students, can mean that a key concept is missing from the student’s knowledge. Although it may not seem like much, being absent just two days of school a month is considered to be chronic absenteeism and can have lasting effects that follow the student into the upper grades. This year, Albany schools are going to focus on reducing absences. Be there every day to learn! New Climbing Wall Marin Elementary opened a climbing wall in their playground this week (photo above). This feature is available to the entire community on evenings and weekends. I want to thank the Marin PTA and the enthusiastic, dedicated parents who funded and led this project. Our parents and parent groups add so much to Albany schools! Projects such as this climbing wall, as well as playground improvements and school gardens throughout the District, have a lasting positive impact.  Superintendent Search Update This week, many of you responded to the Superintendent Search Survey. Your input will help us build a position description that reflects the qualities that you think are most important in the next AUSD Superintendent. There were also meetings with our labor partners, and an open Community Forum was held yesterday to fill in the picture of what type of leader Albany needs. At the Board of Education meeting on August 27, board members will determine several important criteria for the search.  Important Dates August 29:  Elementary   Back-To-School Night, 6–7pm,  Parents only, please Sept. 2:  Labor Day Holiday, no school, all offices closed Sept. 5:  AMS Back-To-School Night, 6:30–8:10pm Sept 11:  AHS Back-To-School Night, 7–9pm Upcoming Board of Education Meetings All  Board of Education meetings  are open to the public. Find agendas on the links above, or through the  AUSD Events Calendar .  August 27:  Regular Meeting, 7pm, Albany City Hall Have a great weekend,  Donald Evans, Ed.D. Interim Superintendent Albany Unified School District ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, Aug 23 2024

Please Fill Out An EZ Meals To Help Our Schools

Dear AUSD Families, How can you help students at Albany schools get more funding for everything they need, without making a donation?   That's EZ! Actually, that's  EZ Meals.    Our schools receive significant additional state funding ( around $2,000 per qualifying student) for every approved EZ Meals application.  If you think that there is any possibility that your family might qualify based on the  annual  incomes in this table, please fill out the  EZ Meals application . More info can be found  here :   Family Size Annual Income Less Than: 2 $37,814 3 $47,767 4 $57,720 5 $67,673 We understand that since all students at all schools will receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of income in the 2024–25 school year, it is perplexing to be asked to fill out a meals application. However, the state systems remain based on these applications for critical funding.  Additional benefits to students include reduced prices for AP and SAT testing, All-bany Swims swimming lessons for 1st–3rd graders, and eligibility for Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) afterschool and summer programs.  If your family qualifies through the   EZ Meals application  before August 31, 2024, you could also be eligible for retroactive SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) for Summer 2024 and for next summer as well.  All students at all schools will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of income in the 2024–25 school year. Thank you! [Thursday, Aug 29 at 2:34 PM] If you haven't had a chance to fill out the EZ Meals application yet, now is a good time! If you have, thank you very much!

Thursday, Aug 22 2024

Interim Superintendent's Community Update, August 16...

  Week One Was Great!  Dear Albany Community, School got off to a great start this week with lots of energy and excitement, and all schools opened smoothly. The boisterous freshman rally at Albany High, pictured above, welcomed the Class of 2028 to their new school. Some of our youngest learners participated in Balanced Beginnings, a two-day process for building Transitional Kindergarten classes that will optimize learning groups. At all schools and grade levels, teachers and staff enthusiastically welcomed students back to campus.  Albany High Students In National News Two AHS students were featured in a Politico article about lowering the voting age for location elections:  Meet the California teens hoping to widen voting rights for 16-year-olds . They worked with the Albany City Council to place a measure on the November ballot. If Albany voters approve  Measure V , then, 16- and 17-year-olds will be able to vote for school board and city council members in future municipal elections. I applaud these students for getting involved locally and working to change the world! Mid-Term Appointment to the Board of Education At their  regular meeting on August 13 , the Board of Education selected Joshua Mahoney to fill the seat that became available due to a board member’s mid-term resignation. Mr. Mahoney has lived in Albany for 13 years with children in AUSD schools. He began his career as a math teacher and has worked in educational research. Mr. Mahoney states, “Public schools, for me, are also a hub of a community, and serve as a place where we can find common ground in empowering our children to thrive.” Mr. Mahoney was sworn in on August 14 and will serve until December 2026. I welcome him to our Board.  The Search Is On! At the  special meeting on August 14 , the Board of Education officially opened the search for a new, permanent Superintendent to take over from myself, AUSD’s Interim Superintendent. As I have stated, one of my responsibilities as your Interim is to help you find a new permanent superintendent. The plan is to interview the top candidates in September, approve a contract in October, and transition to the new Superintendent in November. Until the new superintendent starts working, I will continue to lead the District, and I am committed to work on improving transparency, communication, and processes within the District.  The Qualities Of A Great AUSD Superintendent A critical first step in this process is gathering staff and community input on the qualities you value most in your Superintendent. You have received a separate message with links to the Superintendent Search Survey in several languages, here is a link to the  English survey .  I strongly encourage you to provide your input so that the needs of our school community and the strengths of the next Superintendent are an ideal match .  To enable the search to stay on a tight schedule, the survey will close on August 23. In addition to the survey, an in-person  Open Community Forum  will be held for all who wish to join on Thursday, August 22, 6:30–7:30pm at the Ocean View Elementary Library. Important Dates August 19:   Regular Elementary Schedule  Begins  August 16–23:   Superintendent Search Survey  open August 22:  Open Community Forum on Qualities of the Next Superintendent,  6:30–7:30pm, Ocean View Elementary Library August 29:  Elementary   Back-To-School Night, 6–7pm,  Parents only, please Sept. 2:  Labor Day Holiday, no school, all offices closed Sept. 5:  AMS Back-To-School Night, 6:30–8:10pm Sept 11:  AHS Back-To-School Night, 7–9pm Upcoming Board of Education Meetings All  Board of Education meetings  are open to the public. Find agendas on the links above, or through the  AUSD Events Calendar .  August 27:  Regular Meeting, 7pm, Albany City Hall Have a great weekend,  Donald Evans, Ed.D. Interim Superintendent Albany Unified School District ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, Aug 16 2024

Interim Superintendent's Community Update, August 9,...

Are You Ready For The First Day of School? Dear Albany Community, Welcome! I’m excited for the start of a new year. The first day of school is Wednesday, August 14 and we are ready to get started! Each year is an adventure for students as they start the next grade with new teachers, higher academic expectations, and greater maturity.  Education is a partnership, and I am reaching out to you to be an active partner in your child’s education. We can’t do this work without you. Have you seen your school’s  Welcome Back Letter ? Each principal provides great information in these letters along with answers to most of your questions about the first week of school and beyond. Listed below are the links to each school’s letter. Principal’s Welcome Back Letter: Albany High School   Albany Middle School Cornell Elementary Marin Elementary Ocean View Elementary Start of School Essential—Data Confirmation Annually,  every student’s information must be verified . Many of you have already completed the data confirmation process, which begins when you open the  AERIES Parent Portal . If you have, thank you very much! This allows for a much smoother start of school. If you have been having trouble with the process, watch this  step-by-step video guide . You can also request help through the  AERIES Help Resources .  First Week Schedules At  all elementary schools , 1st–5th grade students will be on a minimum day schedule (8:30am–1:45pm) August 14–16. The regular schedule will begin for 1st–5th graders on Monday, August 19. TK–K students will be on their regular schedule, 8:30am–1:30pm beginning on the first day of school. The regular elementary schedule is posted  here . Watch your school’s weekly newsletter for information about occasional changes.  Albany Middle School  will be on a minimum day schedule (8:20am–2:15pm) August 14, 15, and 16. Here’s the complete  AMS Bell Schedule .  Albany High School   9th  graders will start school on August 14 with a Welcome Rally at 8:30am in the gym. All 10th, 11th, and 12th graders will start school at 9:00am in their Advisory class. Thursday, August 15 and Friday, August 16 will have the typical Block A and Block B schedules. All AHS bell schedules are available on the  AHS website . Mid-Term Appointment to the Board of Education Being a member of the Board of Education is the most important position an Albany resident can hold to engage with and support public education. Due to a mid-term resignation, a position on the AUSD Board of Education became available and applications were solicited. Candidates will be present at the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 7:00pm to interview with the Board. The successful candidate will be selected and announced at the meeting and will serve through December 2026. Please note that this appointed position is in addition to the two positions that will be selected by voters in the November 5, 2024 General Election. Mid-term resignations will be filled by appointment and not by election.  Important Dates August 13:  Teacher Assignments/Student Schedules visible on AERIES after 12pm (noon),  if data confirmation has been completed August 14:  First Day of School  August 29:  Elementary   Back-To-School Night, 6–7pm,  Parents only, please Sept. 2:  Labor Day Holiday, no school, all offices closed Sept. 5:  AMS Back-To-School Night, 6:30–8:10pm Sept 11:  AHS Back to School Night, 7–9pm Upcoming Board of Education Meetings All  Board of Education meetings  are open to the public. Find agendas on the links above, or through the  AUSD Events Calendar .  August 13:  Regular Meeting, 7pm, Albany City Hall August 14:  Special Meeting, 6pm, Ocean View Library See you next week!  Donald Evans, Ed.D. Interim Superintendent Albany Unified School District ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, Aug 09 2024

Mid-Term Appointment to the AUSD Board of Education

Due to a mid-term resignation, a position on the AUSD Board of Education is available. Being a member of the Board of Education is the most important position an Albany resident can hold to engage with and support public education. The Board of Education consists of five members who collectively oversee the Superintendent of Schools, approve budgets and contracts, and set the direction and mission of the District.  All applicants are welcome! Please note that this appointed position is in addition to the two positions that will be selected by voters in the November 5, 2024 General Election. Mid-term resignations will be filled by appointment and not by election.    AUSD Board of Education Provisional Appointment Application Applications due:  by Thursday, August 8, 2024 at midnight (PT) Interviews and Appointment:  Tuesday, August 13, 2024 7:00pm (at Board Meeting) Provisional Appointment will be through December 2026 If you are not able to access the online application, or wish to submit an application on paper, please email Julie Sen at jsen@ausdk12.org.

Thursday, Aug 01 2024

2024 AUSD Newsletter Coming To Your Mailbox Soon!

Dear Albany Unified Community, The 2024 AUSD Newsletter will be arriving via US mail to your mailbox soon. Read about Proposition 28 Arts Funding, amazing student athletes, the District's conversion to LED lighting, and our plan for addressing facilities needs.  Although every student's family, all staff members, and every Albany resident is mailed a printed copy of the annual newsletter, a pdf is attached here for your convenience, or you can click on this link .  Enjoy the rest of your summer, and remember that school starts on August 14!

Tuesday, Jul 09 2024

NBC Sports Names Albany High Teacher All-Star Teache...

“Profe” Pamela Lim-McAlister was named this year's All-Star Teacher Award winner at last night's Giants game, see this  great video of Profe finding out that she is the winner! Albany High School will receive $30,000 in honor of Ms. Lim-McAlister's win. This is extraordinary news for Albany High, Ms. Lim-McAlister, and of course for all the students past, present, and future who have been taught by this positive, energetic, and generous educator! We are so proud of you, Profe! https://www.facebook.com/NBCSAuthentic/videos/2752799518220757

Thursday, Jun 27 2024

Interim Superintendent's Community Update, May 31, 2024

Facility Priorities Survey, Capital Funds Are Needed, Superintendent Search, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, and Promotion/Graduation Events Dear Albany Community, Today I will attend the AMS Black/Latinx Promotion Ceremony, followed by the Latine Graduation at Albany High. Next week, we’ll have promotion ceremonies at all the elementary schools for fifth graders, promotion at AMS for eighth graders, the AHS Black Graduation, and, of course, the AHS/MAC Commencement Ceremony for our graduates. These events are milestones for our students and families, full of meaning and often creating long-lasting memories. Please celebrate your student next week, whatever grade they have finished, and especially if they are part of our Class of 2024! Facility Priorities Survey Wednesday you received an invitation to participate in our  Facility Priorities Survey . We have recently accomplished a Facilities Assessment, which updated the existing 10-year-old Facilities Master Plan. A long list of needs were identified. Some of our buildings have not been renovated for decades and there are systems that are near the end of their expected lifespan. Prioritizing this list according to community priorities is the goal. Please spend a few minutes taking the  brief, four question survey  in which you rank needs according to what you think would benefit students the most. Capital Funds Are Needed It is important to understand, however, that except for regular minor maintenance, facilities needs are not accommodated within the District’s General Fund budget. Around $8 million remains from a grant we solicited from the State, and the Board of Education will be allocating these funds in the near future. The Board is considering how to obtain funds to keep our facilities up to standard as buildings age and systems need replacement.  At Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, the Board heard a plan that would involve extending the years that the current bond tax rate would apply. Albany residents would continue to pay exactly the same amount as they are paying now, but by extending this payment rate for several more years, $55 million in capital funds for facilities work could be obtained. At their June meetings, the Board will be considering this path, which would involve placing a measure on the November ballot.  Superintendent Search As the Interim Superintendent, one of my responsibilities is to help you find a  new permanent  superintendent. At the beginning of August the Board of Education will open a superintendent search. The community will be surveyed and consultants will meet with each group of stakeholders to discuss the qualities and characteristics we are looking for in a new superintendent. Candidates will be vetted and later interviewed during September. We hope to approve a contract in October and appoint a new superintendent to begin working by November 1. More details about the timeline and steps of the search will be communicated in a separate email from the Board next week. Until the new superintendent starts working, I will continue to lead the District, and I am committed to work on improving transparency, communication, and processes within the District.   June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month The Board of Education passed a resolution proclaiming  June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month  at Tuesday’s meeting. Albany schools are welcoming to all, and I take pride in our commitment to maintaining safe and inclusive learning environments. Promotion/Graduation Events Below are the important dates for the rest of the school year. Please make a note of the special celebrations that you want to attend.  Note: June 4 is the last day of school! Important Dates May 31:  Albany Middle School Black/Latinx Promotion Ceremony, 3:30–4:30pm, AMS Courtyard May 31:  Latine Graduation Celebration, 5–7:30pm AHS Little Theater June 3:  Black Graduation Celebration, 5pm, AHS Little Theater June 4 : Marin 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9:40–10:40am June 4:  Cornell 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 12:30pm June 4 : Ocean View 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 1–2pm June 4 : Albany Middle School 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 5–6:30pm, Cougar Field June 4:  Last Day of School June 5:  Albany High School Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony, 5–7pm, Cougar Field August 14:  First Day of School, 2024–25  Upcoming Board and District Committee Meetings All  Board of Education meetings  and  District committee meetings  are open to the public. Find agendas on the links above, or through the  AUSD Events Calendar .  June 11:  Board of Education Regular Meeting, 7pm June 18:  Board of Education Regular Meeting, 7pm Have a great weekend,  Donald Evans, Ed.D. Interim Superintendent Albany Unified School District

Friday, May 31 2024