Communications/ Family & Community Engagement
To help inform our 2020-21 Reopening Plan, Albany Leadership has sought feedback and input from all stakeholders: administrators, faculty and support staff, students, parents and guardians and community members. We also have developed our 2020-21 Reopening Plan in alignment with all guidance from Governor Cuomo, the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Education Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Engagement efforts to solicit input on our planning included online surveys for all stakeholders, virtual forums and meetings, and individual conversations.
We held virtual forms that included opportunities for live feedback and questions on the following dates and times for students, families and community members.
- Tuesday, July 28 at 5:00 PM
- Wednesday, July 29 at 12:00 PM
We held virtual forums for all faculty and staff on July 30, again providing an opportunity for live feedback and questions,
As we submit our 2020-21 Reopening Plan and move forward with implementation in alignment with current and future guidance from Governor Cuomo and other state and local agencies, Albany Leadership remains committed to communicating all elements of this plan to all stakeholders, with a primary focus on our students and families, and our staff.
Sharing our 2020-21 Reopening Plan
Our 2020-21 Reopening Plan is available to all stakeholders at www.albanyleadershiphigh.org/reopening-information and will be updated throughout the school year as necessary to respond to updates and developing circumstances should they occur. The link to the plan also appears on our homepage, www.albanyleadershiphigh.org.
The plan can be translated into our most prevalent languages via the Translate feature available on our website. The Director of Advancement is working closely with the Director of Student Support Services and English as a New Language team to ensure that the full plan and any related documents are communicated and translated to all families.
As part of the planning for reopening schools for the 2020-21 academic year, Albany Leadership has developed a plan for communicating all necessary information to employees, students and families, community members and vendors.
Albany Leadership will use its existing communication channels- including but not limited to the following to support the dissemination of consistent messaging regarding new protocols and procedures, expectations, requirements and options related to school operations throughout the pandemic.
- Website: www.albanyleadershiphigh.org
- Facebook: Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls
- MailChimp for newsletters and email blasts
- OneCall System for phone calls and text messages
- Internal Daily Staff Email
- Traditional Mail
- Flyer distribution in back to school folders
To facilitate translation, our communication plan will endeavor to drive all stakeholders to our website whenever possible to benefit from the Translate function, and, as noted previously, the Director of Advancement, Director of Student Support Services and ENL Team will work closely to make information and materials available to all of our ENL community.
The information that we will share will be based on state guidance and the extensive engagement and two-way communication process the district used to inform and develop our 2020-21 Reopening Plan.
Albany Leadership will rely on its website to communicate news, requirements and updates related to reopening and in-person instruction, including social distancing requirements, proper wearing of face coverings and proper hand and respiratory hygiene.
Prior to the beginning of the school year, Albany Leadership will be training staff through professional development on how to follow new COVID-19 protocols safely and correctly, including but not limited to hand hygiene, proper face covering wearing, social distancing, and respiratory hygiene.
Albany Leadership will be spending multiple days at the beginning of the school year teaching how to follow new COVID-19 protocols safely and correctly, including but not limited to hand hygiene, proper face covering wearing, social distancing, and respiratory hygiene with our students. This will occur through synchronous classes for all students.
Additional Considerations for Effective Communications and Family Engagement
Albany Leadership is planning monthly Family Feedback Forums for our parents and guardians to provide feedback and ask questions. The Family Liaison will be setting dates and send out the information through our website, OneCall, social media, email blasts and traditional mail.
In addition, Albany Leadership has a place designated for questions on the reopening webpage. ALH Leadership will review these questions and respond in a timely manner.