District to suspend 28 for roles in school closure

The City School District of Albany will suspend at least 28 students for their roles in the events that led to an early dismissal Thursday and the cancellation of school Friday, said Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams.

The suspensions include the 10 students the Albany Police Department arrested Thursday afternoon. The suspensions also include the student that Albany High staff have identified as responsible for pulling the fire alarm Thursday. There appears to be no connection between the pulling of the fire alarm and the fighting that followed.

“Our staff at Albany High School have been tireless in investigating all evidence available to them to identify those students responsible for Thursday’s incident,” Adams said. “I want to reiterate that we will not allow the unacceptable behaviors and actions of a small percentage of our students to jeopardize the learning environment for the rest of our students and staff.”

All suspensions will last a minimum of five days and could extend for the rest of the school year, Adams said, depending on individual circumstances and the district’s disciplinary review process. Additional suspensions are possible, and Albany police also are continuing to investigate.

Albany High dismissed about 15 minutes early Thursday when several fights among students started outside during an unannounced fire drill near the end of the school day. School was closed for students Friday to allow staff an opportunity to thoroughly investigate the incident.

“Albany High School is a safe, vibrant school with dedicated, caring staff,” Adams said. “Nearly all of our students are engaged in their learning and making the right decisions on a daily basis. I want to assure our students, our families and our staff that we will not tolerate the type of behavior we saw this week and we will not allow it to detract from their educational experience.”

Albany High will return to its normal schedule Monday, with additional security in place and support from the Albany police, Adams said.

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to work in partnership with our diverse community to engage every learner in a robust educational program designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success. The district serves nearly 9,700 students in 18 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.