District opens track for limited resident hours; board debates monitoring and weekend access

The Cohoes City School District said residents may begin using the high‑school track on specified mornings starting Monday under a sign‑up system, but board members raised concerns about monitoring, weekend use and staffing.

Administration announced limited morning hours (6–7 a.m.) through the end of May, with families signing up through Family ID and staff or fob access granted to approved users. District staff and athletic directors will coordinate gate access and the district will revisit expanded hours in the summer when athletic practice schedules are less volatile.

Trustees had mixed views on monitoring. Some argued that live monitoring or paid monitoring staff were necessary to protect students and facilities, while others said the district should trust the public and avoid creating barriers to use. The board discussed requiring a monitor to watch cameras in real time versus relying on recorded footage to review incidents after the fact; district staff said the cameras are in place and that monitoring arrangements are under discussion.

Separately, administrators reported a successful rollout of metal detectors in school buildings: vendor training is complete, sensitivity has been adjusted, staff have learned the supporting app and daily setup/breakdown processes are working, although additional morning helpers would ease operations. The district said students and staff have adapted well to the new entry screening measures.

Next steps: administrators will continue conversations about summer access windows, monitoring options and potential staff needs for weekend or evening use, and will provide further details in future meetings.