The passion of high school students here describing their tech-savvy creative projects to the school board Tuesday night unfolded into the measured words of school leaders mapping a future for the school that would lead to more college credits.

Ann-Marie McManus, who describes herself as "an educator through and through," left behind the classroom she loved to become an assistant principal at Guilderland High School.

The bookends of educational careers were celebrated on May 27 as new teachers were honored for achieving tenure and retirees were lauded for shaping future generations.

"It's really a philosophical question," says Principal Thomas Lutsic of boosting grades for students in advanced courses, and school leaders are divided on the issue.