Generous gift
Computers will go directly to Albany High seniors in career, technical education.
Another nonprofit has stepped in to help close the digital gap in Albany city schools.
The Workforce Development Institute on Tuesday presented 100 Chromebooks to the Abrookin Career and Technical Center in Albany on Tuesday — laptop computers that will go directly to seniors in Albany High School’s career and technical education programs.
WDI is a statewide nonprofit whose mission is to grow and keep good jobs in New York state.
“We’re the Workforce Development Institute, and students are the future workforce,” WDI regional director Cricket Thomas- O’dell said. “If they ’re not being educated and trained, where will we be in the future?”
Most students in grades 7-12 have been attending class remotely since the COVID -19 pandemic began.
Jorlenys Valverde is a Albany High senior in the health science career pathway who is headed to college next September to study nursing. Having her
own laptop will be a great help and will help her complete her studies at Albany High.
“I am so thankful,” Valverde.
About 1,700 district students are currently sharing devices at home due to the shortage and a delayed order of 5,200 Chromebooks. The district ordered the devices in July and initially expected delivery in September. Delivery was delayed until November and remains
pending.
Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams said that a computer that’s “owned”
versus one that is “loaned” will take student proficiency to the next level.
“This support is critical.
We are so very, very thankful for our community partners at the Workforce Development Institute,” Adams said.
Last week, Hannaford Supermarkets donated $75,000 to the Albany Fund for Education to support distance learning. The donation will support the purchase of 300 to 400 laptops that will go to students early in the new year, the Fund for Education said.