This fall, the Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon opened a new training center to house their residential electrician apprenticeship programs, which includes twice as much lab space for hands-on practice.
SCHOOLS
Growing pension costs for Salem-Keizer would eat up proposed state school funding increase
The Salem-Keizer School District will have to spend about $20 million more on pension obligations in 2025 after a recent change to state formulas. It’s a financial blow facing districts and local governments around Oregon.
Oregon school districts, employees face $670 million increase in payments to public pension system
The increased costs for schools to the Public Employee Retirement System in the next two years will more than wipe out the governor’s proposed increases in school funding.
Want a diploma and struggling with addiction? A new Salem high school can help.
Discovery Academy, opening next spring in Salem, will be one of three public “recovery high schools” in Oregon. It will be run by the Willamette Education Service District, with space for about 40 students who are recovering from substance abuse.
Chemeketa’s construction measure had bipartisan support and kept taxes flat. Voters still said no.
Early returns showed voters across Oregon rejecting about half of tax and funding requests from cities, school districts and other local governments – a high rate compared to other elections since 2020.
Voters opposing measure to renovate Chemeketa campuses, expanding career programs
A $140 million campus construction package paid for by property taxes was failing in early returns with about 53% of voters opposed. The measure would keep tax rates the same by replacing other expiring bonds.
Los líderes del Distrito Escolar de Salem-Keizer describen planes para mejorar la lectura de los estudiantes
Las escuelas ahora tienen mejores datos para ayudar a los maestros a identificar a los estudiantes que necesitan ayuda con la lectura y concentrarse en las habilidades de escritura, dijeron los administradores del distrito a la junta escolar la semana pasada.
Salem-Keizer School District leaders outline plans to improve student reading
Schools are gathering better data to help teachers identify students who need help reading and zeroing in on writing skills, district administrators told the school board during a work session last week.
Salem-Keizer will expand weapon detectors to all high schools this school year
During a six-week pilot of weapon detectors at South Salem High School, no firearms were seized and tardies increased slightly, but the school reported fewer behavioral issues, improved attendance and more students and educators saying they felt safe with detectors in place.
Salem students weigh inflation, democracy, international conflicts as they cast mock ballots for president
Thousands of middle and high school students across the Salem-Keizer School District participated in a mock election organized by the League of Women Voters, which wraps up this week. Results will be shared Nov. 1.
