Districts will receive extra state funding if they agree to consolidate administration and services under the LePage administration initiative.
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.
Municipalities wince from ‘gut punch’ in school funding
An unexpected loss in state support for many Maine districts has led to contentious budget deliberations and difficult decisions for taxpayers.
Bath police arrest 3 men, seize cocaine after 2-month investigation
Roy L. Jackson is charged with trafficking, Derius Wilson-Black is charged with possession and Steve Juenemann is charged with violating conditions of his release.
Ethics staff: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Russell broke campaign finance rules
The former Portland lawmaker didn’t give enough details on how she spent money and failed to disclose that she paid campaign funds to a member of her household.
UMaine System trustees approve 2nd tuition hike in 2 years
The roughly $450 increase boosts in-state costs to about $18,000 a year for tuition, fees, room and board at the flagship campus in Orono.
UNE launches institute for study of North Atlantic, Arctic
Graduate, undergraduate and professional certificate programs are planned at UNE North in Portland as the city plays an increasing role in northern areas because of shipping connections and shared fisheries.
Cumberland second-grade teacher among 16 honored as county teachers of the year
Connie Russell, who works at Mabel Wilson School, is among the finalists for Maine Teacher of the Year.
Three Maine high schools among top 500 in U.S.
Yarmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth high schools earn recognition in the latest annual U.S. News & World Report rankings.
UMaine Machias junior wins national scholarship
Ponuwon Wocuhsis Brodeur, a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, used her studies to help her respond to personal tragedy and win an honor from the Udall Foundation.
Portland High School student chosen as finalist in Google logo contest
Sophomore Will Gordon’s entry in the ‘Doodle 4 Google’ competition puts him in the running with 52 other students for a $30,000 college scholarship.