Dozens of Salem teachers will receive back pay for their work over the past two years after the Salem-Keizer Education Association prevailed in an unfair labor practice complaint. Administrative law judge Jennifer Kaufman ruled in May that the Salem-Keizer School District failed to bargain in good faith with the teacher[Read More…]
Tag: LOCAL SCHOOLS
Assessing threats key to Salem’s school shooting prevention
Salem’s police chief says an existing local system to assess threats to students – not stationing officers inside schools – is key to keeping students safe from mass shootings. Police Chief Trevor Womack and other law enforcement and district leaders spoke to Salem Reporter about security protocols following the mass[Read More…]
Educators raise concerns about fights, assaults in Salem middle schools
Salem schools are continuing to see high numbers of fights and aggressive behavior from students, prompting concerns from educators. The problem is especially pronounced in the district’s middle schools, which have recorded 755 fights and 244 assaults this school year through the end of April. About one in four district[Read More…]
Hundreds more Salem kids to get a chance for bilingual Spanish-English classes in fall
About 250 more elementary school students will be able to attend class in both Spanish and English starting next fall as Salem-Keizer School District leaders begin a significant expansion of the district’s dual language program. Four elementary schools – Chavez, Four Corners, Keizer and Washington – will have dual language[Read More…]
Salem-Keizer budget calls for more teachers to help students learn English, manage behavior
Salem-Keizer School District leaders want to add more teachers to the district’s programs serving non-native English speakers and shift more educators to address students’ behavioral problems, according to a proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year. The $1.4 billion draft budget, published Tuesday evening, largely maintains current district services and[Read More…]
Children’s book on racism to remain in Salem-Keizer libraries following parent challenge
A children’s book about the history of racism and antiracist activism in the U.S. will remain in Salem-Keizer School District elementary school libraries following a challenge by a parent. A district review committee voted 8-1 last week to retain “Stamped (For Kids)” by Ibrahim X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds in[Read More…]
Years in the making, new trans student policies for Salem schools draw backlash
Three years ago, a transgender high school student approached leaders at the Salem-Keizer School District and told them they needed to do better. Julian, a nonbinary student who is now a senior, said the lack of consistent school or district policies led to teachers incorrectly referring to them as a[Read More…]
Enthusiasm, teamwork shine in Swegle soccer club
Karina Carrasco Patino, a first-grader at Swegle Elementary, lines up a goal during soccer camp on Wednesday, March 17 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Aubrey Garcia’s face erupted in a grin as she ran toward her coach. The first grader at Swegle Elementary School jumped and high-fived Sarai Castillo, 18, celebrating after[Read More…]
High schoolers are failing fewer classes this year, but still struggle adjusting from online school
A science classroom in at McKay High School (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) When the end of lunch bell rings at McKay High School, Ranae Quiring starts making the rounds. The principal of Salem’s largest high school said she usually has a few tables of students who seem to miss the normal[Read More…]
Salem’s first electric school bus is on the road
Bus driver Chris Mitzel demonstrates the controls on the Salem-Keizer School District’s first electric school bus at the district bus lot on Feb. 21, 2022 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Bus #427 has a control panel nearly identical to its neighbors in the Salem-Keizer School District’s transportation lot on Hawthorne Avenue. Only[Read More…]
