David New, a 2018 graduate from North Salem High School, speaks about how he earned a diploma. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) David New wasn’t sure how far behind he was in school. At the start of his senior year at North Salem High School in 2017, he assumed he was so[Read More…]

Rosa Rivera, counselor at North Salem High School, talks to a student during an advisory period. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) North Salem High School counselor Rosa Rivera was all business as she addressed the seniors trickling in to the school’s upstairs auditorium. “Do you have your schedule?” she asked, checking each[Read More…]

The vacant field owned by St. Edward Catholic Church. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) The Keizer church facing a forced land sale to accommodate a growing McNary High School contends that school officials are violating the parish’s religious freedom. In a Jan. 18 court filing, St. Edward Catholic Church asked the court[Read More…]

The Salem-Keizer School Board is seeking comments about a plan to change school boundaries that would affect thousands of students and families. The new boundaries, together with ongoing school construction, are designed to address overcrowding based on population projections and would take effect next school year. Families can seek an[Read More…]

Jessica Zamarron helps students with a math assignment in a bilingual Swegle Elementary School classroom. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Jessica Zamarron was inspired by her first-grade teacher at Swegle Elementary. Seeing Karina Rodriguez, another bilingual Latina, in front of the classroom, Zamarron knew her teacher had similar life experiences. If she[Read More…]

The Salem-Keizer School District is going to court to force a Keizer church to sell its land. At issue are about six acres of bare land owned by St. Edward Catholic Church that district leaders say they need to expand the campus of the adjacent McNary High School. Church leaders[Read More…]

Bus driver John Svendsen stands outside the white van he drives. His four-hour route transports six homeless students from schools in Dallas, Monmouth and Independence to Salem. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) John Svendsen’s bus route is unusually quiet. The veteran Salem-Keizer School District driver starts his afternoon route at the main[Read More…]

Salem-Keizer Superintendent Christy Perry (Moriah Ratner/Special to Salem Reporter) With one dissenting vote, the Salem-Keizer School Board on Tuesday approved a three-year contract extension for Superintendent Christy Perry. Perry, who has been superintendent since 2016, will earn $239,126 this year and $248,691 for the 2019-20 school year, with a 4[Read More…]

Proposed elementary school boundaries under the most recent Salem-Keizer School District proposal. (Courtesy/Salem-Keizer School District) After months of discussion, the Salem-Keizer School District is nearing a final plan to shift the boundaries of dozens of local schools. That plan would leave schools in Keizer and West Salem largely untouched and[Read More…]

Olga Cobb, Salem-Keizer director of elementary education, explains proposed boundary changes to parents at Four Corners Elementary School on Dec. 4, 2018. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Parents are concerned a Salem-Keizer School District proposal to ease high school overcrowding by shifting some students to different schools would lead to more bullying[Read More…]