The state university system’s ambitious proposal, in the works since 2013, aims to combine several high-level education programs at one facility.
Noel K. Gallagher
Noel Gallagher covers K-12 and higher education issues statewide. Her stories are a mix of breaking news and trend stories. In recent years, they’ve ranged from why college costs so much, the launch of the state’s first charter schools, how a school welcomed a transgender student and why Maine schools have a hard time finding teachers. She’s enough of a news nerd to enjoy sitting through legislative education committee meetings and hours-long school board meetings so you don’t have to.
The Maine Press Association has honored Noel’s work, but she says she writes for the readers, in the firm belief that an informed citizenry is key to a healthy democracy.
Noel is a California native who has worked at wire services, online websites and newspapers across the country. She was in Washington D.C. during the early Clinton years, covering AIDS activism in 1990s San Francisco, documenting the business of wine in Sonoma County and riding out the boom and bust cycle of the early Internet era in early 2000s Silicon Valley. She arrived in Maine at the beginning of the recession and wrote quite a bit about the downturn here.
In her free time, Noel writes the occasional cookbook review, spends an inordinate amount of time at the Portland Public Library and hangs out with her three fabulous kids and wonderful husband. She is not a former member of the band Oasis.
Big news about graduate center at USM expected today
The announcement by the university system likely will deal with funding for the proposed center.
Maine school districts plan to use state funding for tax relief, programming
A provision that 50 percent of the state funding must go to tax relief is unlikely to apply to many school districts this year.
Maine will join lawsuit against U.S. Education Department over for-profit student loan abuse
Several attorneys general, all Democrats, sued Education Secretary Betsy DeVos after she delayed implementing rules to help students defrauded by for-profit colleges have their loans forgiven.
State budget gives 8 school districts at least $1 million more than they expected
Portland, which had anticipated a decrease of $2.5 million in its state allocation, will instead get an increase of almost $3 million.
Maine charter school for performing arts overhauls model after rocky 1st year
A team evaluating Snow Pond Arts Academy cites concerns about a lack of some administrators, lack of training for some teachers and a $44,000 budget deficit.
Grant of $10,000 will link students in rural Danforth to virtual reality
An east-central Maine school can use the funds for devices such as a 3D printer and VR headsets.
Brunswick company agrees to fine after employing woman with criminal background
Brunswick Eye Care Associates submitted false claims to federal programs and used some income to pay the employee, according to federal officials.
Fort Kent woman in critical condition after hitting moose
Maya Linnell was driving north near Howland Saturday when her vehicle hit the moose, tearing the roof off her car.
New USM course encourages minorities to become teachers
The class of about 45 students from various backgrounds met for the first time Friday.