Salem-News.com Schools articles Page 2

Hands Off Our School Children`s Recession Cookie Jar

Oregon's legislature should repeal the earmarks that rob the Education Stability Fund of money that the Constitution and voters say must be saved for Oregon's school children.

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - There's little doubt that Oregon's economy is sliding and that state revenues will not be adequate to meet this and the next budget cycle's demands for public services. When the last recession struck, Oregon had no rainy day fund, forcing schools and programs to shut down. Our woes became a joke in the comic strip Doonesbury and fodder for the front page of The New York Times.

In response, the legislature sought and obtained voter approval to create an Education Stability Fund. But shortly thereafter, a hard-up-for-cash legislature drained the meager savings in the fund to partially meet the needs of Oregon's school children.

You'd think coming up short in a recession and becoming the laughingstock of the nation would have led to prudent fiscal management of the new Education Stability Fund. It didn't.

Oregon AG Calls for Federal and State Reforms to Increase School and Campus Safety

Myers Joins Colleagues Across the Nation in Releasing National School and Campus Safety Task Force Report.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Attorney General Hardy Myers today issued a call to federal and state leaders to address serious deficiencies in federal and state laws and educational policies that leave students vulnerable to violence in their schools and on college campuses.

As a member of the National Association of Attorneys General Task Force on School and Campus Safety, Myers released a 14-page report that includes specific recommendations that address threat assessment, protocols for dealing with the mentally ill, information sharing among law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, and crisis response planning and communications.

OSU Sensory Survey and ODA Grant Project Add Momentum to Farm-to-School Efforts

Getting a sense for local foods in Oregon schools.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Proponents of getting more nutritious and locally-grown foods into Oregon schools may have additional support thanks to a project just completed by Oregon State University and one just getting started by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Both efforts are connected to the Food Innovation Center (FIC) in Portland– a joint OSU and ODA facility that has assisted food companies and commodity groups through a variety of on-site services.

Suspected Teen Terrorists Arrested With Bomb Chemicals (UPDATED)

"Investigators are concerned the suspects may have been planning more then a 'threat' after taking steps to steal chemicals that the suspects said they planned to make bombs with." - Keizer Police Captain Jeff Kuhns

(KEIZER, Ore.) - The Keizer Police are investigating a burglary that occurred at McNary High School, 595 Chemawa Road North, at about 2:00 AM Saturday morning.

Police Spokesman Capt. Jeff Kuhns says the investigation has led to the arrest of five male juveniles that investigators believe conspired to steal chemicals from the school's science classrooms so they could make bombs.

Police Find Man With Gun at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon

Police have located a man reported to have weapons on the Linn-Benton County College campus. The campus is closed for the remainder of the day.

(ALBANY) - The Linn-Benton Community College went into lockdown at about 9:00 AM, after a report of a man on campus who was suspected of concealing weapons under a tan trenchcoat.

The man had a weapon and a concealed weapons permit, according to Albany police.

Awesome 3000 Turns 25 on Saturday

Two former Olympic athletes will appear as celebrity guests of honor to help motivate the expected thousands of young runners.

(SALEM) - The Awesome 3000 turns 25 this Saturday, and marks a quarter century of support for Salem-Keizer schools.

The annual fun run, which raises money for the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation’s teacher grant program, kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at McCulloch Stadium with the middle school girls.

Saturday’s events are capped by a 25th anniversary “Reunion Run,” a 1,500 meter, un-timed run open to anyone.

Salem Academy Main Campus CLOSED on Thursday

Pre-arranged Childcare for Preschool 3 and 4 year olds is available on the East Campus.

(SALEM) - Salem Academy Main Campus (grades 6-12, preschool) is closed Thursday, due to water main break.

High School meet at East Salem Academy Campus for Community Outreach day at 9:30 AM.

High School students arrange after school pick up at East Campus.

Oregon Dropout Rates Decline

According to the report, 868 students dropped out of school from the Salem-Keizer School District.

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Education announced on Tuesday, that Oregon’s statewide dropout rate for the 2005-06 school year was 4.1%, down from last year’s 4.2%.


The 4.1% dropout rate is the lowest rate the state has reported since statewide reporting began in 1991.


Dropout rates for white students decreased slightly, while the dropout rates for Asian, African American, Hispanic, and Native American students showed increases.

Reminder for Parents: Salem-Area Spring Break Free Lunch Sites

Lunch is served from noon to 12:30 p.m.

(SALEM) - A program that has been providing free lunches to low-income, school-age children at risk of hunger during Spring Break week in the Salem/Keizer area since 1993 in expanding to rural Marion and Polk counties.

Timber Payments to Oregon Counties Will Be Extended

Darlene Hooley and Peter DeFazio have secured a commitment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to extend the county timber payments in this year’s Emergency Supplemental funding bill

(SALEM) - The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, which Congress approved in 2000 to offset the loss of revenue to counties and schools resulting from severely reduced timber sales, expired in September 2006.