With the first day of school for students fast approaching, the Albion Board of Education held a special meeting Monday morning to tie up loose ends on personnel and safety, ensuring the district is ready for the arrival of roughly 1,700 students this Wednesday. Called to order by Board President Mrs. Weller at 7:00 a.m., the August 25 meeting focused largely on finalizing appointments for support staff and approving critical safety protocols. **Technology Leadership Filled** In a significant move to bolster the district’s infrastructure, the board approved the appointment of Giuseppe Navarra as the new Technology Coordinator. Navarra, who steps into the role on August 26, will be on a probationary period through August 2026. His starting salary was set at $66,946. The appointment comes as the district continues to rely on technology for classroom instruction and administrative operations. The position is classified as non-competitive under Civil Service rules. **Staffing Up for September** With students returning to the classroom on September 3, the board moved quickly to approve a slate of new hires for support positions, offering a wage of $16.00 per hour for aides and monitors. The board approved the hiring of three Teacher Aides for the Elementary School: Eva Beadle, Cameron Ecker, and Samantha Hand. Hand’s appointment follows her resignation from an Elementary School Monitor position, effective September 1. Additionally, Lori Reamsnyder was appointed as a Teacher Aide for both the Elementary and High Schools, though her start date is pending standard pre-employment clearances. To maintain safety and supervision, the board also appointed Jennifer Comer and Jessica James as Elementary School Monitors, and Mary Delamarter as a High School Monitor. Start dates for Comer, James, and Delamarter are pending drug testing, physicals, and fingerprint clearance. **Safety and Community Support** While personnel matters dominated the agenda, the board also took time to reapprove the district’s Building-Level Emergency Response Plans. These plans, which detail protocols for crises ranging from medical emergencies to security threats, are kept confidential for security reasons but must be approved annually by the board. The district also benefited from community generosity heading into the new academic year. The board accepted three separate donations: * A $600 monetary donation specifically for the Football Program. * A $350 monetary donation coupled with backpacks full of school supplies. * A general donation of school supplies for the district. **Looking Ahead** The meeting concluded with the board looking toward the immediate future. The next scheduled gathering is a Regular Board of Education Meeting on September 8 at 7:00 p.m. Residents can also mark their calendars for a "Meet and Greet" with new teachers on October 6 at 6:00 p.m., prior to the regular meeting that night. As the 2025-2026 academic year begins, teachers will report for Professional Development on September 2, with students following on September 3.