🎓 Board of Education
Albion Board Tackles Bus Garage Repairs, Reviews Literacy Data
The Board approved $100,000 for door replacements at the bus garage and reviewed new reading assessment data showing grade-level proficiency ranging from 35% to 66% in the elementary and middle schools.
▶
Key Actions & Decisions
●
Approved the 2024-2025 Capital Outlay Exception Project, allocating $100,000 for interior and exterior door replacements at the Bus Garage (work scheduled for Spring 2025).
●
Approved a budget transfer of $8,700 for After-School Advisory salaries and additional "Leader in Me" materials.
●
Approved the 2025 Marching Band Trip to Pittsburgh, PA, scheduled for May 2-4, 2025.
●
Accepted the resignation of four staff members and appointed five new staff members, including Stephanie Keller as Clerk and Tanya Bjornstad as Teacher Aide.
●
Appointed eight staff members to supervise after-school sports study hall at a rate of $25 per hour.
The Albion Central School District Board of Education moved to address facility maintenance needs on Monday, approving a plan to replace doors at the district’s Bus Garage as part of the annual Capital Outlay Exception Project.
Architects from CPL Architecture presented the proposal during the November 4 meeting, explaining that the $100,000 project would focus on safety and security improvements. Kory Hunsinger, a K-12 design architect with CPL, told the Board that the bus garage was identified as a priority based on the building condition survey.
"We determined that the bus garage needs interior and exterior door replacement," Hunsinger said.
The project budget breaks down to $81,523.11 for construction, $13,476.89 for incidental expenses, and $5,000 for contingencies. The work is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2025 and must be completed by June 30.
While lighting and ceiling replacements were also reviewed, Hunsinger noted those items did not fit into this year’s budget and may be proposed for the 2025-2026 Capital Outlay Project.
Also under the business category, the Board approved a budget transfer of $8,700 to cover salaries for the After-School Advisory program and to purchase additional materials for the "Leader in Me" initiative.
**Academics and Assessment**
A significant portion of the evening was dedicated to academic updates, specifically a review of the district’s transition to new software and the latest reading diagnostics.
Rebecca Manfreda, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, reported on the switch from ClearTrack to Frontline, a platform used for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The transition was encouraged by Jessica Beal, Director of Special Education, to improve efficiency. Manfreda noted that while data migration has been "an interesting process," the new system offers a secure way to send and receive IEPs with other districts.
Manfreda also presented reading diagnostic data for students in Universal Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade using the STAR Assessment. The results showed a wide variance in grade-level proficiency:
* **Kindergarten:** 66% at grade level
* **UPK:** 58% at grade level
* **4th Grade:** 48% at grade level
* **7th Grade:** 40% at grade level
* **1st Grade:** 41% at grade level
* **3rd Grade:** 39% at grade level
* **5th, 6th Grade:** 37% at grade level
* **8th Grade:** 35% at grade level
* **2nd Grade:** 37% at grade level
Manfreda also highlighted the district-wide rollout of Newsela, an instructional technology platform that provides news articles tailored to different reading levels. This tool allows teachers to customize instruction for diverse learners and offers translations for multilingual students.
**Student Celebrations**
Before diving into policy and finance, the Board recognized student achievement. Gabriella Pritchard received the Elementary School Leadership Award, while Middle School Character and Leadership awards were presented to Rigoberto Baltazar, Jr. and Traper Croft.
Athletic Director Mariah LaSpina also brought representatives from the fall sports teams—girls’ soccer, boys’ soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, cross country, and golf—to share season highlights with the Board.
**Personnel and Finance**
The Board accepted several personnel changes, including the resignation of ES Monitor Eddie English and the appointments of Stephanie Keller as Clerk ($29,750) and Tanya Bjornstad as Teacher Aide ($15.60/hr).
In the Finance Committee report, Board Member John Kast noted that an external audit by Mengel Metzger & Barr gave the district high marks for financial management and reserve building. However, the audit identified two areas for correction: the unassigned fund balance is slightly over the 4% legal limit, and the district lacks a formal procedure for "piggybacking" on bid contracts. Kast stated that a Corrective Action Plan is in place to resolve these items.
The Board also approved a change of destination for the Marching Band trip. The ensemble will now travel to Pittsburgh, PA, from May 2-4, 2025.
The meeting was called to order by Board President Wayne Wadhams at 7:00 p.m.
Coverage of the Board of Education meeting on 2024-11-04,
Village of Albion, NY.
View original document ↗
This article was drafted by AI (claude-sonnet-4-20250514) from the official meeting transcript and reviewed by a human editor.
Quotes link to source video timestamps for verification.
Read our editorial policy.
🔍
Ask Albion
Have a question about this story? Search across meeting transcripts, village history, and municipal code.
Related Board of Education Meetings
2024-12-02
Albion Schools Focus on Family Connection; Accepts Resignations at December Meeting
▶
Key Actions & Decisions
●
Accepted the resignation of Mariah LaSpina, Middle School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, effective Dec. 22.
●
Appointed Randy Knaak as Interim Athletic Director effective Dec. 3 (salary per employment agreement).
●
Approved multiple new hires, including Ocie Bennett Jr. as Teaching Assistant ($37,000) and Richard Sia as Computer Specialist ($34,000).
●
Ratified the release of Christina Fracchia (Teacher Aide) and accepted the resignation of Modified Wrestling Coach David Skrip.
●
Addressed a "spam" caller ID issue affecting the Elementary School's main phone line (ext. 2030).
●
Recognized High School students Mallory Kozody and Perris Benjamin for leadership and character.
●
Accepted the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award from the Niagara Orleans Football Association.
2024-10-07
Albion Schools Chart New Course with District-Wide Strategic Plan
▶
Key Actions & Decisions
●
Approved a budget transfer of $12,779.72 for administrative salaries.
●
Accepted quarterly revenue and expenditure reports and the Extra-Classroom Activity Fund report for August.
●
Accepted recommendations from the Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).
●
Heard a presentation on a new Strategic Plan process to guide the district for the next three to five years.
●
Reviewed 2024-2025 building goals focusing on writing, social-emotional learning (Leader in Me), and explicit instruction.
●
Acknowledged upcoming New York State School Board Recognition Week (October 14–18).
2024-09-09
Albion Elementary Adopts Standards-Based Grading; Marching Band Heads to Chicago
▶
Key Actions & Decisions
●
Adopted new Standards-Based Report Cards for the Elementary School, replacing traditional percentage grades with a 1-3 mastery scale.
●
Approved the first phase of the High School Marching Band trip to Chicago, IL, scheduled for May 1-4, 2025.
●
Approved a $6,000 budget transfer for additional high school supplies.
●
Accepted the resignation of six substitute and staff members, including substitute teachers and cleaners.
●
Appointed Richard Neal as Building Maintenance Worker ($40,000) and Katlyn Ritchey as Custodian ($35,306).
●
Approved the creation of a new Teacher Aide position.
●
Accepted donations of school supply backpacks and a medical tent for the football program.
2025-01-13
Albion Board Appoints New Member, Considers Term Limits and Adopts Civic Readiness Platform
▶
Key Actions & Decisions
●
David Sidari was appointed to the Board of Education to fill a vacancy until the May 20, 2025 election.
●
An Ad Hoc Committee recommended changing Board terms from five years to three years; the full Board will vote in February.
●
The Board approved the "Local Civics" platform to track high school students for the Seal of Civic Readiness and other graduation seals.
●
The Board accepted the retirement of Instrumental Music Teacher Greg Martillotta, effective Sept. 12, 2025.
●
Several personnel changes were approved, including the resignation of Special Education Teacher Sarah White and the appointment of Ocie Bennett, Jr. as Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach.
●
Professional development funding for 42 staff members was approved at a rate of $25/hour.
●
Elementary students Moses Taylor, Jr. (Leadership) and Mackenzie Gilbert (Character) were recognized with awards.
2024-08-26
Albion School Board Approves New Hires, Staff Leaves Before September Start
▶
Key Actions & Decisions
●
Approved the appointment of Terri Furmanski as a full-time Cleaner with a starting salary of $36,896.
●
Granted child-rearing leave to 5th Grade Teacher Allison Howard from Sept. 9, 2024, through Oct. 18, 2024.
●
Accepted the resignation of Modified Girls’ Soccer Coach Jennifer Manley, effective Aug. 2, 2024.
●
Approved the appointment of Erika Rush and Katherine Czamara as Teacher Aides at a rate of $15.60/hr.
●
Accepted a $1,000 monetary donation designated for Albion School Nurses.
●
Appointed Giuseppe (Joe) Navarra as a Volunteer Boys’ Soccer Coach, pending a temporary coaching license.
●
Scheduled long-term substitute teachers Olivia Borchert and Holly Klatt to cover Elementary School classes starting Sept. 3.
●
Set the date for the Board Meet and Greet for new teachers on Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
2025-02-03
Albion Students Show Growth in Mid-Year Report; Board Rejects Shorter Term Limits
▶
Key Actions & Decisions
●
Budget transfer of $10,000 approved for Elementary School field trips.
●
Proposal to reduce Board of Education terms from 5 years to 3 years voted down.
●
Proposal to reduce the number of board members from 9 to 7 was withdrawn without a vote.
●
Update on Oak Orchard Health's expanded behavioral health services for district children.
●
$1,500 allocated for service calls regarding Audio/Visual issues.
●
Middle School reading scores improved by 8% according to STAR assessment growth metrics.
●
Lockdown drills scheduled for February and March.
Community Discussion
0 commentsBe the first to comment on this story.