In some Erie County schools, more than a quarter of students didn’t take recent standardized tests because their parents decided to have their children opt out of taking the exams.

It’s part of a growing protest by parents against Common Core testing. But in the Albion school district, only a few students didn’t take the tests. There are about 800 students in grades 3 through 8 at Albion. About 10 had parents who chose to have the children opt out of taking the tests, said Michael Bonnewell, district superintendent.

That’s about 1 percent of the eligible students in Albion. That compares to West Seneca, where 27 percent of the district’s 3,087 children in third through eighth grades didn’t take the reading tests because they’re parents decided to opt out, according to The Buffalo News.

Parents can keep their children home during testing days, which are spread over 12 days. That would count as 12 absences. Or students can go to school and sit quietly with the untouched test in front of them.

The “sit and stare” has sparked controversy in Western New York. In Albion, middle schoolers who opted out of the tests went to a room separate from their classrooms, Principal Dan Monacelli told the Board of Education on Monday.

Elementary students who opted out stayed with their classrooms during testing, said Principal Rachel Curtin.

The Common Core testing debuted last year and only about a third of students in NY reached or exceeded proficiency levels for math and reading.

Those tests were implemented at a time with new “Race to the Top” testing requirements from the federal government and also new teacher evaluations from the state.

Parents are protesting all of the changes and pressures on students and teachers.

“They are trying to change too many things all at once,” Bonnewell told the board about the new testing and evaluation requirements. “That is three major changes all at once.”

ALBION – The Board of Education tonight approved a $33,551,051 budget for 2014-15 that will not raise property taxes.

The tax levy will remain at $8,439,939, and the tax rate is projected to fall 4 cents from $16.82 to $16.78 per $1,000 of assessed property.

Albion school officials were considering a 1.6 percent tax increase, but they were able to close the gap and not raise taxes.

“We don’t take that lightly,” Margy Brown, the BOE president, said about a tax hike. “Even at 1.6 percent for some people that is challenging.”

Albion raised taxes by 1.5 percent in 2013-14. That was the first increase in seven years.

Albion is down 704 students from 11 years ago and has eliminated 82 positions over that time to reflect the enrollment drop, said Shawn Liddle, the district’s assistant superintendent for business. Those staff reductions have helped the district keep taxes mostly in check for the past decade.

“We’ve been fiscally responsible and conservative,” Brown said. “We’re forward-thinking and we watch the numbers closely.”

The proposed budget will go before voters on May 20, with the polls open from noon to 8 p.m. in conference room A at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School.

The budget maintains current programs. It increases overall spending by 0.6 percent or $202,002. The district will see cost-savings with eight retirements and the turnover of another veteran staff member. They are all planned to be replaced by newer staff at lower salaries.

The budget includes about $130,000 more for computer hardware, software and bandwidth upgrades in anticipation to a transition to on-line testing.

The district will have a public hearing on the budget at 7 p.m. on May 13 in the High School LGI.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Cobblestone Division of the Girl Scouts of America is having its annual Cake Auction today from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on West State Street in Albion.

The cakes are all decorated in a musical theme. There were several Elvis-themed cakes, including the one in the top photo by Lauren Freeman.

Molly Wadhams made this cake, “Shot to the Heart,” by the rock band Bon Jovi.

Rebekah Thompson made this cake, “Pretty Punk Piano.”

Allyson Irwin made a “Guitar Hero” cake.

Lucy Rivers made a cake in memory of Albion band teacher Wayne Burlison, who loved lemon-flavored treats. The cake is in the shape of a saxophone.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Albion native and world-class saxophonist Susan Fancher returned home today to perform in the Eastman at Albion Concert Series at the First Presbyterian Church.

She performed in a concert titled, “Sax Appeal.” She was joined by fellow saxophonist and Eastman professor Chien-Kwan Lin.

Fancher has a doctoral degree in music and teaches saxophone at Duke University.

The Albion High School Saxophone Ensemble also performed in the concert. That group includes Charlyne Olick, Sarah Graham, Matthew Flanagan, Emilie Barleben, Steven Stauss, Laura Flanagan and Nicholas Ettinger.

Proceeds from the concert go to the Albion High School Alumni Foundation for scholarships.