The LePage administration’s ‘Embrace’ initiative aims to create efficiencies between neighboring school districts.
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.
Women in peril: Female addicts face distinct – and deadly – disadvantages
With fewer institutional resources and a greater biological threat, women entangled in the opioid epidemic must overcome gender-specific hurdles to recovery, including child-care considerations, social pressures and stigma often complicated by the specter of sexual trauma.
Finance panel backs additional $800,000 in cuts to Portland school budget
Finance committee members lament the elimination of long-term improvements but endorse a $104.8 million spending plan that will increase taxes for schools by 2.5 percent.
Legislative committee endorses Robert Hasson to be education commissioner
Hasson, a former teacher and superintendent, has been acting commissioner since November.
UMaine System trustees vote to make Machias campus part of flagship
Under the new structure, UMM will keep its name and degree-granting authority, and will be led by an academic dean who reports to the president of UMaine in Orono.
Cost to attend UMaine System likely to top $19,000 next year
Following a six-year tuition freeze, ‘now it is time to invest,’ Chancellor James Page says.
Superintendent revises budget to get tax impact below 5 percent
Xavier Botana says he was able to shave $1.1 million from the budget without cutting academic programs or teachers.
Portland school bond Q&A
How much would the $64 million bond to fix all four schools cost taxpayers? Borrowed in stages over the next six years, the bond would result in an additional $92 million in debt after interest. Property taxes are projected to increase by 3.1 percent over a 26-year period, adding an average of $104 a year […]
Renovating Portland elementary schools: Needs abound as bond options decided
Councilors may determine today how many borrowing plans to put before voters, and it could be three or none at all.
Man injured in Old Orchard Beach house fire
Four animals died in the blaze on Harmon Avenue, the fire chief says.