Albany schools highlight Toast STEM program, a National Merit semifinalist and staffing and communications updates

At the Dec. 4 meeting the board received a cluster of district updates ranging from school‑level programming to staffing and communications.

Principal Sophia Newell described Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (Toast) as a community school with a STEAM focus, roughly 20 percent multilingual learners, high family engagement and partnerships with about 22 community organizations including UAlbany and RPI. Newell said Toast will expand its garden with a newly awarded $50,000 urban farms grant to support the backpack food program.

The board also recognized an Albany High senior identified in the record as Kayla as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist; Principal Jody Comerford and the student noted the PSAT score and semifinalist status and said finalists and winners will be named in the spring.

HR director Kate Theiss reported modest month‑to‑month improvements in overall vacancy percentages but persistent teaching assistant shortages and said a high‑school job fair aimed at substitutes and TAs should yield several new substitutes. Theiss said support‑staff vacancies remain a focus.

Communications lead Mr. Lesko described growth in Facebook and Instagram followings, recent event successes including a district ribbon‑cutting for the new Albany High and a Market 32 donation to expand the high‑school food pantry. He also announced the district will seek a new notification tool with robust translation capabilities and said assistant director Lisa Andrei plans to retire in January after 17 years in the communications department.

Board members praised the schools and communications team and asked staff to continue work on customer‑service training for frontline staff, improved two‑way communication channels with families and clearer signposting in buildings to balance welcome with security.