Authorities say the likelihood of a link is remote, but Portland school officials want to know if radio frequency levels are elevated, particularly in Room 305.
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.
Rebuilt Hall School seems favored option
Portland’s school board is cool to the state’s idea of consolidating Hall with Longfellow Elementary.
With enrollment down 11%, USM’s incoming president faces tough first year
Glenn Cummings already has plans to fill a budget gap without academic cuts, recruit and retain students, heal the campus and build partnerships.
LePage vetoes Common Core realignment bill
The governor says schools can’t afford the manpower or the costs to upgrade science standards.
Legislative committee backs bills to help Maine students afford, finish college
One proposal from a special commission calls for new policies while the other calls for new state funding.
A sudden switch in USM’s presidency as Glenn Cummings takes the job
The longtime educator will take over July 1 instead of Harvey Kesselman, who asked out of his appointment with his current school in turmoil.
University of Maine System trustees OK budget, keep tuition frozen
In-state tuition would stay the same for the fourth year in a row, assuming Gov. LePage’s proposed budget is approved.
Thornton Academy headmaster to be honored at White House
Rene Menard will get the President’s ‘E’ Award for the school’s success in enrolling overseas students.
Cutler cautions not to grow UMaine graduate center too fast
The former gubernatorial candidate tells the University of Maine System’s trustees: ‘You’ve got to crawl before you walk.’
UMaine has 5 percent drop in students
The Portland and Orono campuses have declines in new students while more students head to small schools.