Category SCHOOLS

Students get off the bus for the first day of school at Bush Elementary. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) About 400 fewer Salem-Keizer students passed the state’s English test last year than in the previous year, according to state data released Thursday. The data shows a small…

Food service workers prepare wrapped turkey dogs to serve in Salem-Keizer elementary schools (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) In Salem-Keizer School District’s central food production kitchen, servings are often measured by the thousands. The industrial kitchen in a nondescript building in southeast Salem cooks up chili, burritos,…

Ruth Langmoir, an August 2019 McKay High School graduate, gets a hug from graduation coach Ken Ramirez after earning her diploma. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) It took her principal dragging her out of bed to get her there, but Angel Hance Route is now a high…

State officials ruled this week that Salem-Keizer School District isn’t discriminating against LGBTQ employees by holding meetings at a community center owned by a church which opposes same-sex relationships. The Oregon Department of Education’s decision comes after a Salem-Keizer employee filed a complaint through the…

Agriscience teacher Luis Valenzuela shows the aeroponic towers where students will grow plants at Salem-Keizer’s Career Technical Education Center. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Running an agriculture program with no soil is a challenge, but Luis Valenzuela is up to the task. Valenzuela teaches agriscience at Salem-Keizer’s…

Emily Hicks, communications coordinator for the Salem-Keizer School District, talks about the importance of attendance with a student at Mary Eyre Elementary School on Sept. 3, 2019 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) A giant stuffed eagle sporting a school t-shirt sits on top of a bookshelf in…

Salem-Keizer bus driver Alan Booth checks his bus’ emergency exits before setting off to pick up his first student on a November morning in 2018. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem-Keizer bus drivers will earn extra stipends during their first year on the job under a new…

Gubser students Asher Tompkins, left, Kaili Garcia and Jacob Garcia cut a ribbon in the new school cafeteria on Aug. 29, 2019. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Angel Carter is used to cleaning milk off student’s chairs. Until this year, it was part of the job for…

Kelsey Daniels (Courtesy/Salem-Keizer School District) Schirle Elementary School is getting a new principal this year after a few last minute shuffles among Salem-Keizer administrators. Former principal Clinton Gertenrich is moving to Sprague High School to work as assistant principal and athletic director, the district announced…