Dear Albany Unified Community,

Our first week back from mid-winter break has been full and energizing. We held a Board meeting, celebrated Division finals, sent our wrestlers to the state tournament, held a Dragon Parade, and are gathering as a community for Ramadan Iftar and Lunar New Year celebrations. These moments reflect the many identities and traditions that strengthen Albany Unified.

Recently, members of the Albany High School Chinese Culture Club visited several elementary classrooms to share Lunar New Year traditions. The photo above captures their visit to Ms. Feuerstraeter’s second grade class at Cornell, and we are grateful to her for welcoming students and helping create this meaningful cross-age connection. Seeing older students step into leadership and share their culture with younger peers is a powerful reflection of belonging in action.

This week, the Board also approved the ratified 2025–2028 agreement with the Albany Teachers Association. The agreement reflects months of thoughtful dialogue and represents a balanced step forward. Collective bargaining requires us to honor our staff, ensure fiscal sustainability, and keep students at the center. I’m grateful to everyone who engaged in the process with care.

Our strength rests in our relationships and shared purpose. I remain committed to ensuring every student feels safe, seen, and supported, and every staff member feels valued in the essential work they do each day.

A Special Note

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Kim Trutane on her retirement. She has been an extraordinary Communications Specialist for Albany Unified, and her retirement marks the close of a chapter defined by deep commitment and steady leadership. She worked tirelessly to ensure our families, staff, and community received timely, accurate, and thoughtful communication. She has an exceptional ability to understand what is happening across our district and to translate complex information into clear, accessible messages that strengthen trust and connection.

Dr. Trutane played a pivotal role in guiding our transition to a new, beautiful district website, ensuring it reflected who we are and served our community well. She also led all ParentSquare trainings, patiently building capacity so that our schools could communicate effectively and consistently with families.

Beyond her professional role, Dr. Trutane’s service to Albany runs even deeper. As a former School Board member and two-year Board President, she has long demonstrated her commitment to public education and to this community. Her dedication, work ethic, and heart for Albany will be profoundly missed. We are grateful for her years of service and wish her all the best in this next chapter. 

Please note that we will be transitioning some of Dr. Trutane’s key work to Julie Sen for the remainder of the year. More information will follow in a future communication.

Women’s Herstory Month

Next week we enter March, Women’s History month, or, perhaps more appropriately, her-story month. The Board of Education passed this proclamation in support.

Planning Facilities Renovations

Albany Unified is in the process of developing a Facilities Master Plan that will create a long-term vision for facilities upgrades throughout the District and identify priorities for immediate projects using Measure L bond funds.There are a number of ways to participate right now. Go to Facilities Planning Input (also available under Popular Links on www.ausdk12.org) to:

• Learn about the current conditions on each campus;

• Help identify guiding principles for prioritizing projects; and to

• Ask questions.

Meetings for community members and families are being scheduled at school sites as well. More information is available at Facilities Project Information.

Ramadan 

We are in Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims with a focus on spiritual growth, self-discipline, reflection, and community. Teachers are aware of Ramadan observations and will allow fasting students to request accommodation for P.E. and other sports activities. Libraries or other spaces will be open to fasting students to sit during lunchtime if they would prefer not to be around food. Teachers will also be especially mindful of class activities that revolve around food. The Southwest Asian North African (SWANA) parent engagement group will be hosting a Ramadan Iftar potluck tonight, details below. 

Winter Sports

Our winter teams are completing outstanding seasons! Emalani Perez and Angelina Schlumberger qualified for the state wrestling tournament this week. The AHS boys soccer team, undefeated in the regular season, advanced to the NCS Division I semifinals. AHS boys basketball advanced to the NCS Division II semis.

Chicago: Teen Edition

The AHS Theater Ensemble is presenting Chicago: Teen Edition, a vibrant, jazz-infused musical set in the Roaring Twenties. This specially adapted version of the Broadway classic features hits like “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango,” offering all the style, satire, and spectacle of the original production. With sharp wit, and timeless themes of ambition, celebrity, and media sensationalism, Chicago: Teen Edition promises a dazzling night of entertainment.

Olympic Alumni

Alysa Liu, winner of the gold medal for women’s figure skating at the 2026 Milan / Cortina Winter Games, went to our very own Ocean View Elementary School. Her siblings also attend Albany schools. I am proud that Ocean View provided a supportive environment to Ms. Liu in her early years. Her incredible performance along with the strong emphasis she places on mental health are inspiring. 

Calendar Highlights: 

Please see messages from your school for complete information about events. 

• February 27: Ramadan Iftar Potluck, hosted by the Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Parent Engagement Group, 6–8pm, Ocean View Multipurpose Room. Sign up here. 

• February 28: Lunar New Year Celebration, hosted by Asian Pacific Islander Parent Engagement Group (API-PEG), 4–6pm, Ocean View Multipurpose Room. Sign up here. 

• March 4–7: Chicago: Teen Edition, AHS Little Theater, 7pm nightly, and 2pm matinee on 3/7. Get tickets here.  

• March 5–13: Elementary Spring Conferences, Wednesday schedule (8:30am–1:45pm daily) for 1st–5th grades.

• March 10:  Regular Board Meeting

• March 20: NO SCHOOL, Professional Development Day.

• March 24:  Regular Board Meeting

With gratitude and optimism, 

Sara Stone

Superintendent

Albany Unified School District