School Board Elects New President, Delays Action on School Rebuild Plans

The Albany school board passed the President gavel to Vice President Jonathan Knight tonight. Board member Allan Maris was elected Vice President. A vote on architect contracts for rebuilding Marin and Ocean View schools was postponed.

Hug a Dog – Pass Your Finals at Cal

Humans’ best friend – dogs – will be employed at UC Berkeley Tuesday to share their soothing vibes with students stressed by final exams.

School District Recommends $2.8 Million 1st Step to Rebuild Marin, Ocean View Schools

Draft layouts for rebuilding Marin and Ocean View elementary schools are being presented to the Albany school board Tuesday night for a possible vote on $2.8 million in architectural contracts for replacing the two schools.

National Fair Trade Contest Won by Saint Mary's College High Students

The student Fair Trade Club at Saint Mary's High School on the Albany-Berkeley border won a national contest for their campaign to promote fair trade bananas.

Albany High Singers to Recreate Renaissance Revels

A feast for the ears, eyes and stomach is promised for those attending the annual "Madrigal Delights" dinner theater frivolity produced by the Albany High School Choirs, taking place this year on Friday and Saturday.

Albany High Students Want Your Old Cell Phones – to Build a School in Nicaragua

The buildOn Club at Albany High seeks used cell phones and electronics until Dec. 6 in a fundraiser to help build a school in Nicaragua. The group raised more than $30,000 to build a school in Nepal and now hopes to repeat their success.

Community Meeting on Possible Schools Parcel Tax

The Albany Unified School District school board has scheduled a community meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to discuss placing a parcel tax on the Nov. 2014 ballot.

New UC Chief: Tuition Freeze, More Community College Transfers, Carbon-Neutral UC

Starting her tenure with an active agenda, new UC President Janet Napolitano told UC Regents today that she intends to keep the current freeze on undergrad tuition, increase community college transfers and cut UC's energy use to zero by 2025.

Albany High Website 'Hacked' – Cougar Fans Implicated

Was it hacked? The official Albany High School website was replaced this morning by a photo of a sparse crowd in the school gym and an exhortation to come support the girls' volleyball team in their playoff game tonight, Wednesday.

School Board Eyes Tentative Contract for SEIU Union

The Albany school board on Tuesday night will consider approval of new 3-year union contract containing a 4-percent raise for maintenance, custodial, food service and transportation employees.

School Board to Review K-3 Class Sizes

The Albany school board has scheduled an hour-long review and discussion of possible ways to reduce K-3 class sizes. An ad hoc group, ""Committee of Concerned Parents," formed at the beginning of the school year to address the issue.

Berkeley Students Don Skirts in Support of Teen Burned on Bus

UC: Life May Be Possible on Billions of Planets in Our Galaxy, Scientists Say

When E.T. tries to call home, he may get a busy signal. There are tens of billions of planets in the Milky Way Galaxy that are potentially able to support life, according new findings by researchers at UC Berkeley and the University of Hawaii.

Meeting Tonight for Albany Parents Concerned about K-3 Class Size

An ad hoc group of parents seeking smaller class sizes in Albany's K-3 classrooms invites any interested parents or other community members to a meeting tonight, Wednesday.

School Board OKs Demolishing MacGregor High School

Agreeing that MacGregor High School's structural problems were too extensive to fix economically, the Albany school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to tear it down to make way for portables that would replace it.

Board Approves $48,000 Seismic Cost Study for Marin, Ocean View Schools

The Albany school board voted 4-1 Tuesday night for a cost-benefit study to help determine whether Marin and Ocean View elementary schools should be retrofitted or rebuilt to address seismic safety issues.

Today's College Grads Won't Be Able to Retire Until They're 73

Student loan debt likely will force today's college grads to work longer.

Imminent Seismic Safety Threat at Marin, Ocean View Schools, District Says

In report for a school board item tonight on seismic safety issues at Marin and Ocean View elementary schools, Superintendent Marla Stephenson says the two schools face "an imminent health and safety threat."

'Demolish MacGregor High' Recommendation on School Board Agenda

A recommendation to demolish MacGregor High School in Albany and replace it with portables is on the agenda of a special meeting Tuesday of the school board of the Albany Unified School District.

Albany Students Generally More Fit than State Average

The chart shows the percentage of fifth grade students with a body composition score (body fat percentage) classified in the "needs improvement – high risk" category in the 2012-13 school year.

Committee Targets Albany Dilemma: Which Schools to Fix or Replace?

The Steering Committee on what Albany schools to rebuild, fix and/or expand meets Wednesday night on priorities at the elementary schools, funding for MacGregor High, which is recommended for demolition, and the state of Marin and Ocean View schools.

Albany Teachers' Contract with 4% Raise Up for Final Board OK

The Albany school board agenda Tuesday includes OK of a new teachers contract (the first in six years) with a 4% raise, public hearings on initial contract proposals from two other unions, and selection of a search firm for a new Superintendent.

Man Taking Photos at Marin School Meant No Harm

The man who caused alarm by taking photos of Marin Elementary School in Albany was a visitor from China photographing his granddaughter's school, school Principal Alexia Ritchie said Friday.

Marin School Alert on Man Photographing Students

Two alerts on the Marin Elementary School e-tree reported a man taking photos of students at the school. Anyone with information about the incidents or who sees a suspicious photographer around the school is asked to notify the school or police.

California Dumps STAR Test

A major change for student testing in California was approved this past week when Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation to replace the traditional STAR test with computerized exams aligned with the new "Common Core Standards."

Are Kids Getting Too Much Homework?

A recent Atlantic article explores what happens when a parent takes on his daughter’s homework for a week: it’s not pretty.

5 National Merit Semifinalists at Albany High, 1 at Saint Mary's College High

Five Albany High students and one Saint Mary's College High student are in the approximately one percent of high school seniors named as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists this year.

Cal Stadium's 'Floating' Press Box Wins National Award

The large, two-story press box that appears to float above the rebuilt Memorial Stadium at the University of California at Berkeley has won a national award for innovation in steel structures. The award was presented at the stadium on Friday.

'Legless Lizards' Story Has Legs

The discovery of four species of legless lizards announced by UC Berkeley on Tuesday has leapt around the world. The creatures' habitats included vacant lots in downtown Bakersfield and dunes near Los Angeles International Airport.

Great Back to School Breakfast Ideas for Kids

Help your little one get a good start to the day with these easy-to-make, healthy morning meals.

Albany Parcel Taxes for Schools Among Highest in East Bay

A new study suggests that lowering the approval rate for school parcel taxes to 55 percent from the current two-thirds would lead to more taxes being passed, but not in poorer communities. Albany has never rejected a parcel tax.

Albany Schools Think About the Unthinkable

In the wake of the Sandy Hook school massacre and other school shootings, the Albany school district is among many districts considering new training programs to deal with a school shooter. Albany is looking at the "ALICE" program.

Do Albany High School Students Feel Safe at School?

Albany High School juniors feel considerably less threat to their safety than do their peers on average in Alameda County and California as a whole, according to recently released results of state surveys.

Can Smartphones Make Smart Students? Schools Think So

No more pencils, no more books. iPads, smartphones and other technology find their way into the classroom.

East Bay Community Colleges' Comeback – See How They Compare

Community Colleges are reversing an earlier trend and are now adding more courses. Here are charts comparing East Bay community colleges according to success rates and the increase in courses.

Officials Address Playground Damage from Police Motorcycles During Solano Stroll

School and police officials say they are fixing the damage caused by Sunday's police motorcycle competition to the playground at Thousand Oaks School in Berkeley. The competition was held in conjunction with the Solano Avenue Stroll.

New Albany Teachers Get Big Welcome, Checks and Goodie Bags

The Albany Education Foundation welcomed the district's new teachers on Tuesday with checks, school-supply goodie bags, brownies and the opportunity to introduce themselves. The reception was held at the Albany Public Library.

Kids at Marin School – Enter Your Drawing for the School Directory

Calling all young artists (and would-be artists) at Marin Elementary School. The school urges its K-5 students to submit pencil or pen drawings for the cover of this year's school directory. Deadline is Sept. 25.

Suave Washes Away the Competition (Sponsored)

Parents enlist the help of Suave for its ability to gently soothe and wash away the remnants of the game. Sponsored by Suave.

Mark Your Calendar: Fall School Schedule Reminders

To help you plan ahead, here are the special days off for Albany schools for the fall term.