The state’s overall graduation rate is the 10th-highest in the nation.
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.
Bills target UMaine System funding challenges
The Legislature has failed ‘as we have cut and cut and cut funding,’ says Rep. Diane Russell of Portland.
Portland officials rethink earlier start times for elementary schools
New proposed hours will be discussed at a workshop and a hearing, as parents object to some schools starting at 7:45 a.m.
Eliot Cutler begins work to unify business, law schools in UMaine System
The man picked to set up a combined graduate center in Portland plans a focus on real-world student experiences to build skills to meet the needs of Maine employers.
Portland School Board decides against later starting time for high schools
With 20 minutes added to the school day, Portland’s high schools will end their classes at 2:30 p.m.
Interim head of community colleges has ‘productive’ meeting with LePage
Derek Langhauser, who took over after President John Fitzsimmons resigned, says he can work with the governor.
Maine plans to offer interest-free loans to draw more science and technology students
The legislation, which is still being drafted, seeks to give graduates an incentive to work in STEM fields in Maine, filling a growing need.
Maine lawmakers want to add money to K-12 budget
The Appropriations Committee will consider the Education Committee’s recommendation next week.
USM spends $2 million on new ads and scholarships, but applications decline
Incoming school President Harvey Kesselman says he expects ‘some upticks’ in enrollment by the fall of 2016.
Portland school board reconsiders plan to replace Hall Elementary
Officials might look at combining the Hall and Longfellow elementary schools, rather than just replacing the Hall school.