The City School District of Albany Board of Education is seeking volunteers to participate on the Ad Hoc Committee on Albany High School’s Historic Stained-glass Windows.
Volunteers will assist the board this fall in determining the future of 16 stained-glass windows that the district had removed in 2008 from the former Albany High/Philip Schuyler Elementary School building on North Lake Avenue between Western and Washington avenues.
The windows date to an older version of Albany High on Eagle Street that served students from 1876-1913 (the current location of the Albany County Courthouse). They have been in storage since their removal from the North Lake building 15 years ago.
Volunteers on the board’s ad hoc committee may participate virtually or in-person.
The committee, whose work shall be consistent with the district’s vision, mission and goals, has two charges:
- The first charge is to review the photographs of the 16 windows and recommend three of these windows for installation in the designated area of the current Albany High facility, which is in the final years of a significant expansion and renovation.
- In making its recommendation, the committee will tour the high school with a particular focus on the area designated for installation and shall consider, at a minimum, the age, size and condition of the windows, the visual designs of the three windows, and the appropriateness and relevance of any images, iconography and meaning of the Latin and Greek wording to district’s schools, students and community.
- The committee shall provide its recommendation to the board’s Facilities Committee no later than Nov. 10. The Facilities Committee will review the selection of windows proposed for installation and advance that recommendation as-is or with modification to the full board for its consideration at its Nov. 16 meeting.
- The second charge is to develop a written plan consisting of one or more recommendations for the remaining 13 windows that are not selected for installation in the high school.
- In developing the plan, the ad hoc committee shall consider all relevant factors including, at a minimum, whether the windows can/should be displayed and how they should be displayed for the enjoyment of City of Albany residents, costs associated with any future restoration and installation in other district schools, costs associated with continued storage, and the extent to which other organizations have interest in the windows and the ability to support restoration and installation.
Interested community members who enjoy the beauty of stained-glass windows or have interest in or knowledge about stained-glass window design and restoration; the history of the City of Albany or the City School District of Albany, construction methods and scheduling, or legal responsibilities of school districts are welcome and encouraged to submit a letter of interest and/or a resume and questions.
You can submit materials to Hassan Elminyawi, board member and ad hoc committee chair, at stainedglass@albany.k12.ny.us.
The deadline to submit materials for consideration is Sept. 5 at 5 p.m.
