Albany High Launches New Business Education Program and Student-Run Business

By Miriam Walden, AUSD

This Fall, Albany High School will launch a new business education program along with a new business. 

As part of the VENTURE program Albany High School students will be running a store on campus selling school supplies and fashion accessories. 

Students will be simultaneously enrolled in two college prep electives — Accounting and Design — where they will learn by doing as they keep the store books, design new products and create marketing materials. 

“It has been over 20 years since Albany High offered an accounting class. We are pleased to offer this pathway to a promising career for our students,” says Dr. Ted Barone, Principal at Albany High. 

Over 40 students have signed up for the program’s first year.

Teachers and students plan to work closely with local businesses. 

“This is an exercise in experiential learning — not only through the operation of our own store, but through the study of local businesses and their operations.” says Virginia Tremblay, who will teach the Design course. “Eventually, students will be in a position to help local businesses by offering their new skills and their time to assist with design and accounting challenges.” 

Tod Abbot, Vice President of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and co-owner of Almost Everything Communications in Albany is urging community members to support the VENTURE program.  

“I am extremely excited to have this new business in our community and to be able to support the development of new entrepreneurs at Albany High.” he said. 

Abbot will be on the Design Review team for the new program, providing advice for the students on their design efforts. Business owners and others interested in supporting the new program are encouraged to contact Albany High School.

On Tuesday April 23, the AUSD Board of Education moved to approve the purchase of new textbooks for the accounting course.  Teachers for the VENTURE program are asking the community to complement the School Board’s investment by raising $3,000 for tools and an initial store inventory.

Tax deductible donations in any amount can be made online through Donors Choose or by mail. Checks should be made out to AUSD with “VENTURE program” in the memo line and mailed to Albany High School at 603 Key Route Blvd in Albany, CA 94706.  Donations received before April 30 will be matched 100 percent.