Albany Schools Target 10% Gain With $10.4M Contract | The Locally Times

A $10.4 million plan aims to boost achievement for high-needs students, while the district’s larger $342.4 million budget proposes staff cuts and a 0.9% tax increase.

A public hearing on the contract is scheduled for Thursday, September 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Harriet Gibbons Student Services Center. The district’s website states that written comments can be submitted to the Superintendent of Schools until August 28. ## Budget Plan Includes Staff Cuts, Minimal Tax Hike The $10.4 million contract is part of a larger $342.4 million proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year. The district notes this is the fifth consecutive year the proposed increase has remained below 1%. To balance the budget, the district plans to reduce staff expenses through retirements and by not filling vacant positions. Budget documents attribute the need for cuts to the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds and a projected decline in student enrollment. ## Key Spending Details Omitted from Public Notice Although the district has publicized the $10.4 million total and the 10% achievement goal, specific details about the Contract for Excellence are not publicly available. As a result, public records do not specify which programs, personnel, or services the $10,460,870 will fund.