News

On January 18th, Albany Options School opened their  coffee cart, AOeSpresso, for the first time. This project was made possible by Mrs. Mitchell’s Entrepreneurial elective class and by a grant from PETS through YTP. The funds from the grant help special programs start school-based businesses to help students transition to jobs after school and build work skills. All of the money was put into the business to help it grow and become self-sufficient.

The coffee cart was modeled after the coffee cart that was started at South Albany High School, and has developed into it’s own thriving business.

Every Wednesday and Friday the cart is open during the breakfast and lunch breaks and is run by students in the Entrepreneurial class. The students work shifts to run the cart, making coffee drinks and Italian sodas and selling snacks for staff and students. Within the class, which meets every morning, the students are responsible for counting the money, making plans for expanding the cart, and adjusting products based off of customer demand.

So far the cart has been a great success, and has already made enough to cover their start-up costs. The class is looking forward to expanding, with a goal of getting their own espresso machine so they can offer espresso as well as drip coffee drinks. Everyone is welcome to come check it out!

2017-18 School Year Transfer Application Window Open Until February 28^th at 5:00 p.m.

The on-line application is located on our District website in the Transfer Requests link under the Parents tab.  Please call the district office if you have any questions.

Registration is now open for the annual fundraising run to benefit Albany Public Schools Foundation on March 11. The annual event is one of the main fundraisers to support foundation-sponsored programs for GAPS students.

Participants can register for a 5K or 10 mile run. There will also be a kids dash for the youngest kids.

Register online. 

See the event poster for more information.

Watch the video of last year’s event.

The School Board unanimously voted to send a $159 million bond measure to voters in the May 16, 2017, election.

The measure would:

• Make upgrades and improvements, including replacing roofs, siding, windows, plumbing, electrical systems in schools around the District.
• Make energy improvements, including replacing old, inefficient high maintenance heating/ventilation systems, doors, which would save energy costs.
• Make safety/security upgrades, including automatic door locks, fire alarms, security cameras to improve the safety of students.
• Make seismic upgrades to enable buildings to better withstand earthquakes.
• Renovate and/or add classroom space to support vocational/technical classes for all district middle school buildings.
• Renovate and add classrooms and a cafeteria at Oak Grove Elementary School; purchase property and construct a new elementary school in NE Albany to address growing enrollment and reduce overcrowding.
• Complete the first phase of West Albany High School’s rebuild that would include new classrooms, commons, auditorium, cafeteria and administrative space; and multipurpose space for vocational/technical education and gymnasium uses at South Albany High School.

The bond proposal is the result of a more than two-year process to identify facility needs in the District. The projects were reviewed by architects and recommended by a community-based District Facilities Advisory Committee (DFAC) that was made up of community members, parents and staff members.

DFAC initially identified more than $250 million in facility needs. This proposal represents the School Board’s priority to balance the most critical needs and the cost to taxpayers. This bond proposal is expected to increase taxes by an estimated $.64 per $1,000 of assessed property value because the 2006 bond is expiring.

For more information, read the resolution and explanatory statement. 

Find more information on the bond information page.

Girls from Albany Options, South Albany and West Albany high schools attended the second annual Women, Metals and Manufacturing Day at Linn Benton Community College on Friday.

The program provided hands-on opportunities to learn about training for skilled, high-demand jobs, including Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD), Machine Tool Technology, Welding and Fabrication, Mechatronics Industrial Maintenance and Non-Destructive Testing.

The event was sponsored by LBCC, Albany Chamber of Commerce Pipeline to Jobs program and local manufacturers.