All Edmund J. O’Neal School of Excellence students will stay in their current instructional model until the building is ready to reopen later this month.

The City School District of Albany has worked with a number of community partners over the last two weeks to try to identify temporary space that could serve O’Neal students currently in distance learning. These partners included the University at Albany, The College of St. Rose, Hudson Valley Community College, the Salvation Army and RISSE, as well as churches and other organizations in the city.

However, logistical and operational challenges, as well as state, county and city regulatory requirements, prevented the district from moving forward with any of those locations on a timeline that would meet student needs.

“We are grateful to all of our community partners who worked together with us over the last two weeks to try to make arrangements to serve our O’Neal students under these challenging circumstances,” said Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams. “Unfortunately, we have not been able to successfully manage the many considerations that our organization and each of theirs needed to work through in order for this to work on such a short timeline.”

The district expects work to repair damage from the water leak that occurred during spring break, and to address health and safety issues, to be completed no later than Friday, May 20. On that schedule, O’Neal would plan to return to normal in-person operations for all students beginning Monday, May 23.

Until O’Neal is ready to reopen, students will continue in the following instructional models:

• Albany International Center (grades K-5) – In-person at Delaware Community School
• Albany International Center (grades 6-12) – Distance learning
• Dual Language Program (prekindergarten) – In-person at Delaware Community School
• Dual Language Program (grades K-5) – Distance learning
  • The supervised virtual option for Dual Language K-5 students at Tony Clement Center for Education, 395 Elk St., will continue to be available each day school is in session on a space-available basis. Please complete this form to request a space. 
• Self-contained special education – In-person at Albany High School and Abrookin Career and Technical Center

The district will continue to provide transportation for O’Neal students attending school at the alternative in-person locations (there is no transportation for prekindergarten students, or for the supervised virtual option at Clement). 

Meal pickup at Clement

The district will offer meal pickup next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (May 10-12) at Tony Clement Center for Education, 395 Elk St. Breakfast and lunch will be available for pickup from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each of those days.

Building restoration update

Work is progressing on schedule at O’Neal to clean and repair areas on all three floors that were affected by the water damage. Crews are removing and replacing drywall, painting, and remediating areas in which mold was found. 

The district’s Technology Department also is installing 75-inch Promethean displays in classrooms, with a goal of having these interactive boards ready by the time students return.

O’Neal will plan an open house event for families to visit the building on an evening or weekend before students return. We will have more information about that opportunity as the cleaning and repairs move forward. We anticipate returning to the building on Monday, May 23; however, we will keep our families and employees informed as new developments occur.

“We understand that these unfortunate circumstances have created challenges for our families, and we appreciate everyone’s patience while we restore O’Neal,” Adams said. 

“We are working with our district staff and contractors to address the issues created by this water damage as quickly as possible, and to make additional building improvements that will benefit our students, families and employees when we return.”