Rachel Alexander
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers education, economic development and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for over a decade and is a past president of Oregon's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Outside of work, you can often find her gardening or with her nose buried in a book.
As Willamette Heritage Center curator, Kylie Pine finds treasures in local history
Even when walking a visitor to her office at the Willamette Heritage Center, Kylie Pine can’t help being a guide. She walks backwards across the center’s 5-acre campus, pointing out the former Methodist mission and an under-development exhibit showcasing a…
Art Witkowski, Diane Watson face off in Chemeketa board race
Art Wiktowski, left, and Diane Watson, are running for Chemeketa Community College board. (Photos courtesy of candidates) For the first time in six years, a Chemeketa Community College board race has drawn a challenger. Art Witkowski, a former Chemeketa instructor…
In nonpartisan Salem-Keizer school board races, interest groups spend thousands
School board candidates David Salinas (top left), Satya Chandragiri, Raul Marquez, Marty Heyen, Danielle Bethell and Chuck Lee. With three weeks to go until the election, candidates are spending tens of thousands of dollars in hopes of winning a seat…
Mental health counselors first priority if Salem-Keizer gets extra schools funding
Students at Hallman Elementary School gather for a morning assembly. (Fred Joe/Special to Salem Reporter) Superintendent Christy Perry knows her first step if her district gets more money: hire a mental health counselors for each of Salem-Keizer’s six high schools.…
Salem-Keizer schools will let out early May 8 for statewide teacher walkout
Salem-Keizer Education Association members stand on the Oregon Capitol steps during the March for Our Students, February 18, 2019. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer School District will close schools two-and-a-half hours early May 8 because of the large number of teachers…
AGENDA: Salem-Keizer board and budget committee dive in to $1.19 billion in proposed spending
Salem-Keizer school board and budget committee members will have a chance to question district staff about Superintendent Christy Perry’s proposed $1.19 billion budget for the 2019-20 school year Tuesday. The budget maintains current district services with no layoffs or furloughs…
Hundreds of families denied school transfers following Salem-Keizer boundary shifts
Rebekah Mitchell, center, drops her son Kaiden and daughter Kendra off at daycare the morning of Thursday, April 25. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Hundreds of Salem-Keizer families are having requests to transfer kids to out-of-neighborhood schools denied following a school board…
Patients caught in the middle as Regence, Salem Health dispute rate increase
Salem Hospital could be out-of-network for Regence members starting in July if a deal isn’t reached between the health system and insurer. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) A contract dispute between Salem’s largest health care provider and a major insurer…
Salem-Keizer will shift staff to transportation, special education under proposed $1.19 billion budget
Salem-Keizer Superintendent Christy Perry presents her 2019-20 budget plan to the district’s budget committee on April 23, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The Salem-Keizer school district won’t see layoffs, a shorter school year or larger average class sizes next year, Superintendent…
McKay would get more space for arts, science, career education under new design
McKay High School Principal Rob Schoepper presents a plan for the school’s expansion to Salem-Keizer’s Community Bond Oversight Committee on April 22, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) McKay High School would get new science labs, an additional tennis court, and more…