Accomplishments

Some of the most important accomplishments since Anne was elected to the Albany School Board in 2014 …

• Improved academic performance – the six-year graduation rate is up to 79% (from 61% when Anne joined the board), and the four-year rate is up to 82% (from 54%).  While the impact of COVID-related regents exemptions are positively impacting our graduation rate, we were already seeing increasing graduation rates well before COVID.
• Held the line on taxes – with a 0% proposed for the 23-24 school year, the tax levy is up an average of just 0.89% per year during the time Anne has been on the board, and much of that was rebated by NYS. Effective lobbying by many education advocates including the board’s Government Relations Committee, which Anne chairs, has resulted in increased state aid, and reduced reliance on property taxes  – local property taxes will be only 40% of the district budget in the 23-24 school year (down from 53%). 
• Improved graduation rates for everyone – The 2022 four-year graduation rate for Black students is up almost 38% from 44% in 2014 to 82% in 2013, and the six-year rate is now 78%, up from a low of 52%, and for Hispanic students is up to 76%, from a low of 49% (four-year). The gap between the four-year graduation rate of White and of Black students has closed to 4% (from a high of 33%) and the six-year graduation rate gap is down to 6% (from 28%).  Our goal is to close the gap completely!
• Commitment to equity – The Board adopted the District’s first-ever equity policy in 2019.  Based on similar work in Seattle, Cincinnati, and other cities, the equity policy commits the district to reviewing our practices and procedures and ensuring that we are eliminating barriers to success and utilizing the strengths of Albany’s diversity to ensure equitable outcomes for all of our students. Just one example – at the Board’s request, members of the district equity team participate in our Policy Committee and review each policy change to consider its impact on our diverse students. Anne also successfully advocated for a community-centered school re-naming policy which allowed the former Phillip Schuyler Achievement Academy to choose its new name Roots Academy at West Hill. There is much work left to do, but the direction is clear.
• Effective Advocacy for Students – Anne has lobbied effectively for both additional aid to high-needs school districts and for improvements to regulations and legislation that hold back city school districts. For example, at the end of 2021 we succeeded in passing a revised Child Safety Zone law that will allow us to access additional transportation aid for students, and Anne continues to advocate for the necessary regulations to implement that law.
• Dramatically enhanced support for English Language Learners throughout the district, including adding the K-12 Albany International Center to provide a critical opt-in transitional program to offer students who are refugees an optional alternative pathway to success in our schools, and doubling the size of our exceptional Dual Language program. As a result of these initiatives, our six-year graduation rate for ELL students up to 75% in 2022, having been as low as 28%.
• Built up our engaging curriculum and improved instruction for every child including increased STEM activities, re-energized magnet & themed elementary programs, and adopting new, system-wide curricula and resources in every area, and improved our coaching model to give teachers the support they need to reach our students.
• Increased transparency board operations – just for example, under Anne’s leadership, the Board greatly expanded opportunities for public comment, and now takes public comments in any language (with translation provided), and we take comments in writing, by phone, or by virtual participation, rather than only in person. The Board has expanded the use of technology to live stream and record all meetings, and to provide a searchable database of all Board agendas, documents, and policies. Our Board also lobbied successfully for a change in state law so that our board members are elected in May – like almost every other school board in the state – allowing us to take advantage of timely training and onboarding for Board Members.
• Improved board operations and board stability – under Anne’s leadership we have had an unprecedented period of board stability, with all current board members having at least 3.5 years of service. Compare this to the situation in 2017 when Anne was the most senior board member with 3.5 years of service. As a board we are well respected for our strong board culture, and well-positioned for our current superintendent search. Our process for reviewing policies, developed under Anne’s leadership on the Policy Committee, is recognized as a model for engaging Board and Staff in key decision-making. Anne is currently heading up the Board Ad Hoc Committee to redevelop the Team Operations manual which sets the expectations for district leadership including Board and key staff members.