It is not widely used and needs an $8.5 million upgrade, while selling it will save up to $110,000 in annual costs, university officials say.
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.
Portland kindergartners to get early start on Spanish lessons
Lyseth Elementary School in Portland is offering the first immersion learning program in a Maine public school, and has plans to keep the class together through fifth grade.
UMaine names Susan Hunter as interim president
Currently vice chancellor for academic affairs, she is the first woman to head the flagship school at Orono.
‘Hard decisions’ at USM include eliminating three programs
University president Theodora Kalikow announces the cuts to close a total $14 million budget gap in the campus budget, and more cuts are anticipated.
Portland School Board backs off ‘forced’ post-graduation plans
Members favor a broader diploma requirement with options in addition to more education.
Maine’s new graduation mandates challenge school districts
Officials say it’s a big task to restructure learning and adopt standards so students can show proficiency in eight areas and get diplomas.
UMaine System waives rules to hire executive public affairs position
Dan Demeritt, a former LePage staffer, is hired to a new $125,000-a-year position amid the system’s financial crisis.
Portland superintendent: ‘Invest in students’
Emmanuel Caulk implores the business community to get involved.
City school board takes heat for graduation requirements at low-turnout hearing
Two parents don’t think students should be forced to apply to a higher-ed school in order to get a diploma.
Proposal would combine UMaine’s graduate business, law schools
The new facility would house the university system’s MBA programs and law school under a plan now under review.