The Albion Board of Education took the first formal steps toward potential future facility improvements Monday evening, authorizing a comprehensive review of the district’s infrastructure. During the June 2 meeting, the board heard from representatives of CPL Architecture Engineering and Planning and Campus Management regarding the upcoming Building Condition Survey (BCS). Required by the state every five years, the survey is a technical audit of all district facilities. Mr. Jason Benfante, Vice-President of CPL, and Ms. Kory Hunsinger, Associate Principal, explained that their team, joined by Mr. Kevin Donaghue and Mr. Michael Ferreri of Campus Management, will be on-site in July to document the condition of the buildings. "We scan the data in real time," Ms. Hunsinger said, explaining that the data is compiled into a five-year plan spreadsheet that identifies areas of need and helps prioritize costs. Mr. Donaghue noted that once the survey is complete and the state portal opens in February, the district will have a vital tool for "pre-referendum planning." "This is a tool for the next pre-referendum planning," Donaghue said. "It helps us assess the budget and prioritize needs." The process includes walkthroughs, stakeholder meetings, and eventually, if the board decides to move forward, a voter-approved project referendum. The board approved the business items associated with starting this process. Celebrating Spring Athletics Following the facilities presentation, the mood shifted to celebration as Mr. Randy Knaak, Interim Athletic Director, introduced Mrs. Lauren Kinard as the district’s new Athletic Director. Kinard, a former school counselor in the Rochester City School District and a four-sport athlete, takes over for Mariah. Knaak reflected on a challenging spring season due to weather, noting that the district often relied on the "sixth rescheduled date." "I want to thank the Bus Garage staff, grounds staff, parents, and students," Knaak said. Student representatives from the track, softball, baseball, and tennis teams shared highlights and lessons learned with the board. The girls' track team emphasized a "team effort" approach, while the boys' track team focused on individual character. Board President Wayne Wadhams, who also coaches track, shared a proud moment regarding the boys' league title win against Newfane. "I have never been prouder of them," Wadhams said. "Coach Hryvniak predicted the scores, and they stepped up and competed. They won by 40 points." Academic Progress Report District administrators also provided updates on the 2024-2025 building goals, highlighting strides in literacy and social-emotional learning. Mrs. Angela Conway, Elementary School Principal, reported that the "Leader in Me" framework is now established. All staff have been introduced to the core paradigms, and the curriculum is implemented in grades Pre-K through 5. Next year, the school will introduce "Eagle Time," dedicated periods for direct lessons and leadership activities. Conway also noted that the transition to standards-based grading (SBG) is fully implemented. The district held family information sessions and distributed guides to help parents understand the new system, which assesses students based on evidence rather than traditional averaging. "We will continue to monitor family feedback and student progress under the new grading model," Conway said. At the Middle School level, Principal Mr. Brad Pritchard shared data from the STAR Reading Assessment. From Fall 2024 to Spring 2025, students in grades 6-8 increased their growth measure by 7.8%. However, Pritchard identified an area for future focus. While students improved in writing, data shows they struggle specifically with "inferencing"—reading between the lines. "It is clear that our students need more focus on inferencing," Pritchard said. "This will be a focus for all subject areas for the 2025-26 school year." In other business, the board approved personnel items, including the appointment of Abbie Alexander as a Special Education Teacher at the Elementary School, effective September 1, 2025.