Community groups press board on appointment process and Tangent Elementary future

As the board prepared to fill a vacated seat, community members urged transparent engagement in the appointment process and submitted a community survey summarizing local priorities. Jennifer Cooper Willis of Strong Albany Schools (a parent leadership group) said the group collected 100 responses from parents, staff and community members and asked the board to consider applicants who will ‘put in the hard work’ and represent all students.

Joe San Diego, a Tangent community partner, delivered a city council resolution urging the district to keep Tangent Elementary operational, noting the school’s historical role and local traditions (spaghetti feed, harvest festival) and warning that closure would remove a nearby walking school for residents. The city requested collaboration on alternatives to closure that address budget and enrollment concerns.

The board affirmed the application timeline (release on the 20th, deadline the 31st) and approved the selection process; community groups requested that candidate ranking notes be public records and urged the board to use the submitted survey and community input in final selection decisions.

Ending: The board approved the appointment process and the district will publish application materials; Tangent civic leaders requested follow-up collaboration to explore alternatives to closure.