By Salem Reporter
Salem schools lag behind state on student test scores, with gains in high school
A student works on an assignment at Highland Elementary on Sept. 7, 2018. (Moriah Ratner/Special to the Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer students lag behind their peers across Oregon on state tests, results released Thursday morning show. About half of Salem students…
Salem YMCA seeks $14.5 million to replace aging building
Development director Laura Morett speaks about the YMCA’s aging Salem headquarters in front of the non-regulation size basement pool. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem’s YMCA is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to replace its aging building – and asking the…
Willamette MBA dean resigns one month into new job
Seung Ho “Sam” Park, an emerging markets researcher, spent just one month as dean of Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management (Courtesy/Willamette University) The recently-hired dean of Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management resigned last week just one…
Woman breaks free of attacker in Minto Brown Park
A 29-year-old woman fought off an unknown attacker last night at Minto Brown Park, escaping a man who tried to kidnap her at knifepoint, according to the Salem Police Department. Police said they arrested 23-year-old David Belluno and booked him…
DHS seeks more than 1,000 new employees to support child welfare in proposed budget
Oregon’s largest state agency is asking for more than $1 billion to add 1,664 new employees. But the proposed salaries won’t fill Oregon Department of Human Services’ cubicles with high-paid lawyers or bolster a public relations team. It will go…
Swegle kindergarten students kick off year with dual language classes
Rashelle Méndez, left, and Albeiro Reyes, right, listen during a lesson on the first day of kindergarten at Swegle Elementary. (Salem Reporter/Rachel Alexander) Karina Rodríguez sounded out her name, writing each letter on the board as her students shouted out…
Salem Keizer school board won’t take position on immigration ballot measure
Students enter Highland Elementary on Friday, Sept. 7. (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) The Salem-Keizer School Board Tuesday night renewed a resolution supporting “safe and welcoming schools” but declined to take a public position on a more controversial Oregon ballot…
ACLU takes aim at Measure 11 in a plan to cut Oregon’s prison population in half
Oregon State Correctional Institution east of Salem (Salem Reporter/Aubrey Wieber) In recent decades, Oregon’s prison population has ballooned. In 2016, it was nearly five times that of 1980. In January, 14,713 people were held in Oregon prisons. Now, a civil…
Salem students start school year amid push to improve attendance
Classmates talk over breakfast at Highland Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 7. (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) As Salem students head back to school, the district is launching a campaign to improve student attendance. Early efforts are focusing on North…
Chronic absenteeism: see how Salem-Keizer schools stack up
(Graphic by Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) As school kicks off, Salem schools are trying to reduce student absenteeism. Students who miss 10 percent or more of school are less likely to graduate on time, and districts across the country are looking…