Education

UAlbany unveils RNA Institute

State-of-the art facility will be home to genetic research on Alzheimer’s, HIV, cancer and more

A unique, state-of-the-art concept turned into a reality Tuesday, June 11, when the University at Albany opened the doors to its brand new biomedical technology development facility.

State Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk, D-Duanesburg, and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, D-Albany, organized a forum, “Education at a Crossroads: A Forum on the Impacts of Testing and Mandates,” on Wednesday, June 5, in the Legislative Office Building at the Capitol.

Life by the strings

Colonie Central grad and cellist inducted into school's Hall of Fame

Kenneth Olsen has been the assistant principal cellist for the symphony for the past eight years. Because of his accomplishments, Olsen is joining two other alumni to be inducted in the Colonie Central High School Hall of Fame this year.

Menands chooses new superintendent

Eight-month search yields Maureen Long, currently at Scotia-Glenville

The Menands School District Board of Education has selected Maureen A. Long as superintendent after an eight-month search.

Custodian acts quickly when student chokes

Steve O’Connor performed Heimlich maneuver on Roessleville first-grader

Last Wednesday seemed like just a typical day for Roessleville Elementary School Custodian Steve O’Connor. Students were packed into the school’s cafeteria, enjoying their food and talking with one another. O’Connor was dumping some of the lunchroom’s garbage when he noticed one of the first-graders jumping up and grabbing her throat.

SCCC contract approved

Project at county offices will cost $87k more due to delay

Renovations paving the way for Schenectady County Community College to fill a floor at the Albany County’s offices can now officially begin, after some lawmakers questioned the contractor’s legitimacy.

Literacy through lyrics

‘Composer to Center Stage’ brings songwriting to students, courtesy Albany Symphony Orchestra

It isn’t always an easy task to get kids excited about literacy, but one local school recently teamed up with the Albany Symphony Orchestra to combine reading with the medium of music.

Student’s urgent message: hold on

Colonie Central High School senior Josh Murphy’s design placed on billboard

Murphy’s slogan “Don’t Text and Drive - It Can Wait” and an image of the iconic iPhone text message symbol was chosen as the winning design for an anti-distracted driving billboard contest sponsored by the CCHS Art Department and Lamar Graphics.

Trash to treasure

Guilderland students helping to expand Pine Bush habitat

Students from Farnsworth Middle School are helping to monitor an area near the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Guilderland seventh-grade students were brought just past the City of Albany’s Rapp Road Landfill, where they looked for signs of life native to the Pine Bush at restored portions of land.

A brief history of the natural world [photo gallery]

Environmental Fair at Five Rivers explores the present and past

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center hosted more than 600 students from around 10 Capital District elementary schools during the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s three-day Environmental Fair.

Shaker student’s photo wired in

Spur-of-moment snapshot to be displayed in halls of U.S. Capitol

For the next year, Shaker High School senior Mitchell Aragona's photo will be on display at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., after being chosen as the winner of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition for the 20th District of New York through Congressman Paul Tonko.

South Colonie's tax cap challenge succeeds

66.2 percent of voters approve of budget in excess of state tax cap

What was continuously called a challenging budgeting year for the South Colonie Central School District was capped with residents approving a 2013-14 school budget that exceeds the state tax cap.

North Colonie school budget passed

Budget stays within the state tax cap

Residents of the North Colonie Central School District approved of the 2013-14 budget that stays within the state tax cap on Tuesday, May 21.

S. Colonie teachers offer concessions

Couple with changes to administrator health care, unpaid day will save $332k

South Colonie Central School District teachers and administrators have approved contract givebacks for the second year in a row, and they will save the district more than $300,000 in the 2013-14 school year.

Disciplined mind opens doors

Shaker High School teacher went from dropout to academic achiever

Alex Finsel got what he needed in the ranks of the Marine Corps, and now, more than 15 years after becoming a college dropout, he’s being recognized for his academic achievement as the 2013 recipient of the Jean Edgecumbe Groff ’39 Graduate Scholarship in Education in the School of Education at the University at Albany. And he’s also bringing the ideals that shaped his life for the better to a new generation as a teacher at Shaker High School.

Colonie Spotlight