The Albion Central School District Board of Education met on Dec. 2 to address administrative changes, recognize student achievements, and discuss strategies to strengthen the connection between families and the classroom. **Administrative Changes** The board accepted several personnel changes, most notably the resignation of Mariah LaSpina from her dual role as Middle School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, effective Dec. 22. To fill the void in athletics, the board moved quickly to appoint Randy Knaak as the Interim Athletic Director. Knaak, who holds permanent certification in Physical Education, stepped into the role effective Dec. 3. The district also approved several other new hires, including Ocie Bennett, Jr. as a Teaching Assistant with a starting salary of $37,000, and Richard Sia as a Computer Specialist at $34,000. In other business, the board approved the release of Christina Fracchia, a Teacher Aide at the Elementary School, effective Nov. 12, and accepted the immediate resignation of David Skrip as the Modified Wrestling Coach. **Prioritizing Family Engagement** A significant portion of the evening was dedicated to education policy, specifically a presentation by Middle School Principal Brad Pritchard on "Enhancing Family Engagement." Pritchard presented data from the fall "Leader In Me" survey, which showed a score of 67% in the area of Family and Community Engagement. He told the board that improving this metric is a priority because there is a direct correlation between family involvement and student performance. "Family engagement fosters a culture of learning at home," Pritchard said. "Supportive family involvement can boost a child’s confidence, motivation, and sense of belonging." Pritchard outlined the current initiatives driving this connection, including "Family Nights" focused on literacy and book giveaways, and cultural celebrations like the "Day of the Dead." He also highlighted the use of "Parent Square," a user-friendly platform for real-time communication between the school and families. Perhaps the most impactful initiative discussed was the district’s home visit program. Pritchard noted that administrators and counselors have conducted over 30 home visits this school year alone. "The benefits of home visits have a substantial impact," Pritchard explained. "They build trust, give us a better understanding of the child’s environment, remove barriers for parents, and improve attendance." **Student Recognition and Updates** Before diving into business, the board recognized two high school students. Mallory Kozody received the Leadership Award, and Perris Benjamin was honored with the Character Award. The board also heard a presentation from students regarding the 2024 National FFA Convention. Students detailed their trip, which included a tour 300 feet underground at the Lackawanna Coal Mine, a tour of Purdue University’s agricultural programs, and workshops on plant science. Additionally, the district received a special honor from Geno Allport of the Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA). Allport presented the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award to Superintendent Mickey Edwards, honoring the district for its support and use of the fields. **Health and Safety Update** Board member Kurt Schmitt provided an update from the Health and Safety Committee, addressing a technical issue that has been plaguing parents. He noted that the Elementary School’s main phone line (extension 2030) is being flagged as "Spam" on many caller IDs. Schmitt explained that this often happens when users mark a number as spam, prompting carriers like Verizon to flag it. He assured the public that work is being done to remedy the problem so that important calls from the school reach parents. Schmitt also had good news regarding school safety drills. He reported that the district’s new emergency response system has drastically improved notification times. Under the old system, response time took about three minutes; the new system has reduced that time to under sixty seconds.