Help plan the future of Albany High School

Advisory committee seeks members; to begin work in January

ALBANY, N.Y. (December 8, 2011) – Would you like to help plan the future of Albany High School?

The City School District of Albany is seeking interested individuals to serve on an ad hoc High School Facilities Advisory Committee. The committee’s charge will be to review relevant data and assist the district in determining the future of Albany High by studying the pros and cons of renovating the current high school and of constructing new high school facilities. 

Once a list of interested individuals is gathered, the district will appoint 25-30 committee members representing a cross-section of the community. Since representation from all segments of the community is critical, it may not be possible to select everyone who expresses interest. However, all committee meetings will be open to the public and there will be opportunities to provide comments and feedback, and to ask questions.

If you are interested in being considered for this committee, please click here to download the interest form return it to Clerk of the Board Catherine Cutting via e-mail at ccutting@albany.k12.ny.us, by fax at 475-6014 or by regular mail at 1 Academy Park, Albany, NY 12207. All interest forms must be received by Wednesday, Dec. 28. Please call 475-6010 if you have additional questions.

Committee members will be selected and notified by the first week of January. The committee will meet twice a month beginning Wednesday, Jan. 11, with a goal of providing an initial progress report to the Board of Education in March 2012. See below for the full committee schedule through May 3.

High School Facilities Advisory Committee

(click here to download the following information in .pdf format)

I. Statement of Purpose

To support the district-wide Facilities Committee in planning for the future facilities needs of the district’s high school programs.

To provide an opportunity for residents, taxpayers and all stakeholders to review relevant data and to assist the district in determining the pros and cons of renovating the current high school and of constructing a new high school.

To create a report to the Board of Education regarding both options.

II. Objective

The committee will review current building use, building capacity, updated enrollment projections and the high school's educational programming vision.

Based on this information, it will examine future facilities needs for high school students as well as operational efficiencies. In the planning process, this committee also will consider energy efficiency and sustainability in the district’s high school buildings.

III. Specifics

The study should encompass, but not be limited to:

• Cost impact and comparison of renovating the current high school vs. building a new high school

• Supporting educational programming

• Enrollment projections

• Impact on local taxpayers

• Impact on neighborhoods

• Transportation costs

• Green building costs

• Energy savings/renewable-energy opportunities in a new facility vs. the current facility

• Special funding available (i.e. NYSERDA, state aid)

• Examine all possible sites, including federal land next to the existing high school

IV. Committee membership

25-30 members representing a broad-based cross-section of individuals within the district (see targeted makeup below; final committee membership may vary):

• (3) Board members from the Facilities Committee

• Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds

• (5) High school principals (building and house)

• (8) Community members

• (4) Parents

• (2) High school teachers

• (2) Students

• Architect

Ex-officio support from Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs as needed.

V. Desired characteristics

Desired characteristics of committee members will include, but are not limited to:

• ability to listen to all sides of an issue

• respect for the opinions of others

• generally acknowledged as one who represents the community

• willingness and ability to commit the necessary time to attend all meetings

• understands the concept of consensus and willing to help the committee work with others to identify and support consensus for both options of a future Albany High School

• is a district resident

• understands and accepts that the committee’s findings are advisory and any final decision rests with the Board of Education, and, ultimately, the community.

VI. Timeline (please note that all committee meetings will be held in the UN Room at Albany High School, 700 Washington Ave., unless otherwise noted)

• Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 – Deadline to submit interest in joining the committee

• Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 – First committee meeting, William S. Hackett Middle School, 6-8 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 – Committee meeting, 6-8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 – Committee meeting, 6-8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 – Committee meeting, 6-8 p.m.

• Thursday, March 8, 2012 – Committee meeting, 6-8 p.m.

• Thursday, March 15, 2012 – Board of Education status update, William S. Hackett Middle School, 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, March 27, 2012 – Committee meeting, 6-8 p.m.

• Tuesday, April 17, 2012 – Committee meeting, 6-8 p.m.

• Thursday, April 26, 2012 – Committee meeting, 6-8 p.m.

• Thursday, May 3, 2012 – Board of Education report, Albany High School cafeteria, 7 p.m.

VI. Minutes shall be maintained at each meeting

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to educate and nurture all students to be responsible citizens, critical thinkers and lifelong learners to successfully compete in the global community by providing an academically rigorous and safe environment in partnership with parents, students and the community. The district serves nearly 8,700 students in 15 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.