Albany High placed on lockdown after two students found with knives; district increases security and opens investigation

A lockdown at Albany High School on the morning of the incident led to an investigation after staff found that two students were in possession of knives, district officials told the Board of Education.

The district said the school was on lockdown from about 9:40 a.m. until roughly 11:00 a.m. while staff and the Albany Police Department reviewed multiple camera angles and completed an investigation of the confrontation. The district said one student complied with staff and was taken into custody; school officials reported no injuries.

Why it matters: Students’ and families’ safety and the district’s ability to prevent weapons entering the building were central to board members’ questions and to public comments. The episode prompted immediate increased security measures at the high school the following day and renewed discussion about how law enforcement, including federal agencies, may access students on school property.

District update and next steps The district’s report said staff and the school resource officer responded immediately, reviewed video from several cameras, and implemented a lockdown so investigators could complete a thorough review. The district emphasized that it is still investigating how the weapons entered the building and whether anyone else was involved.

District officials told the board they will follow the student discipline procedures set out in the district’s student code of conduct and that additional counselors and social workers would be made available to students. The district also said it has shared internal legal guidance about law-enforcement access to schools and is awaiting formal guidance from the New York State Education Department and the New York State Attorney General’s office.

Board concerns and direction Board members pressed for clarity on several fronts: the district’s coordination with transportation vendors (buses), whether security procedures at entry points are sufficient, and what additional information the public will receive once the internal investigation is complete. One board member asked the district to brief bus drivers on their role if federal or local law enforcement approaches students on buses.

Several board members noted that some details about security improvements likely would not be shared publicly to avoid revealing vulnerabilities, but requested confirmation when reviews and improvements are finished.

Public comments Rebecca Schwartz, an Albany resident and parent, described receiving a frantic text from her daughter and said students had told her that a police officer drew a weapon during the incident. Schwartz urged the board to institute “immediate, significant, and permanent changes to security procedure,” suggesting more thorough bag checks, X‑ray scanning of bags, later door opening to allow more time for screening and additional training and pay for hall monitors. “Please ensure that my daughter will be educated and alive,” Schwartz said.

Other commenters thanked staff for programming and extracurricular offerings while urging continued attention to safety and inclusion.

What the district said about law-enforcement access District representatives summarized district practice and legal thresholds they are using internally: law enforcement may speak with students on school property if they have a warrant; if a parent or guardian consents; or if the student is accused of committing a crime on school property and district personnel request investigation. The district said it has instructed building administrators on those protocols and will notify families and staff when state or attorney-general guidance is received.

Context and background Board members referenced prior years’ incidents and broader community concerns about immigrant and refugee families. The board discussed the district’s sanctuary-city posture and emphasized the district’s intent to protect students’ rights and dignity while cooperating with lawful investigations.

What’s next The district said its internal investigation is ongoing, that Albany Police filed charges, and that the district will provide an update to the board when appropriate. Board members asked that the district follow up with transportation vendors and that the district report back publicly that a review has been completed and some improvements made, without disclosing security details that could compromise safety.