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South Albany High showcases state-title volleyball team, outlines block-schedule and 9th-grade supports
Summary
The board recognized the South Albany High School volleyball team for a perfect season and state championship and heard Principal Alan Stearns describe the school’s shift to a block schedule, 9th-grade on-track initiatives, credit-earning strategies and CTE pathway expansion.
The Greater Albany board recognized South Albany High School’s volleyball team for a historic season and state championship, and Principal Alan Stearns presented the school’s instructional priorities, including transition to a block schedule and programs to improve 9th-grade on-track rates.
At the meeting, Bruce introduced the South Albany volleyball players and coaching staff. Principal Stearns and several board members praised the team’s athletic and academic accomplishments; the presentation named multiple players and coaches and noted coach Kayla Wierman’s awards, including district and state coaching honors and the OSAA coaching excellence award.
Stearns then gave a school report. He described the school’s vision that “every student has equitable opportunities to be college and career ready” and outlined three core goals: increasing graduation and credit-earning opportunities, strengthening 9th-grade on‑track supports, and expanding advanced-course and career-technical education pathways.
To increase credits and intervention, Stearns said South moved to a block schedule and added sections devoted to intervention and study skills. The school added study-skill sections and doubled some intervention sections to help students recover credits and build on-tier instruction. He described the Red Hawk 101/advisory model, a Take Flight summer bridge program for incoming 9th graders and targeted MTSS (multi-tiered) supports.
On curriculum and career readiness, Stearns said AVID strategies, expanded CTE offerings and opportunities to earn AP credit and the seal of biliteracy are part of the high school’s approach to giving students multiple post‑graduation pathways.
Board members asked detailed questions about math readiness, attendance and arts funding. Stearns said the district, high school and feeder middle schools are working on algebra readiness and that algebra remains part of the grade‑level expectations; the school offers algebra support classes and summer bridge opportunities. Regarding facilities and music funding, board members discussed how program resources are allocated across sites and asked administration to explore options.
The volleyball recognition and Stearns’s presentation did not result in board action; the board thanked players, coaches and staff and asked administrators to continue monitoring credit attainment and enrollment trends.
