Rachel Alexander

A wealth of new state data shows nearly all of Salem’s elementary schools have made progress improving student attendance. District schools continue to struggle in other areas, including helping non-native speakers learn English.

If you’re looking to donate gifts, volunteer or write cards to brighten someone’s holidays, Salem Reporter compiled a list to help out.

Nearly every school in Salem and Keizer improved attendance last year. But 44% of local students remain chronically absent, challenging efforts to improve literacy and graduation rates.

This fall, the Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon opened a new training center to house their residential electrician apprenticeship programs, which includes twice as much lab space for hands-on practice.

An instructional assistant at West Salem High School is on leave after what the school described as a “physical altercation” on Monday.

Bill Amos founded NW Alpine in 2010 to make high-quality clothes for mountaineers that upheld his environmental and labor values. Now, he wants to grow a new Salem retail store into a community hub.

The Salem-Keizer School District will have to spend about $20 million more on pension obligations in 2025 after a recent change to state formulas. It’s a financial blow facing districts and local governments around Oregon.

Salem apartment developer Kevin Harrison has bought the historic Cooke’s Stationary building and is renovating the vacant upstairs into four apartments. The State Street retail front is available for lease.

Discovery Academy, opening next spring in Salem, will be one of three public “recovery high schools” in Oregon. It will be run by the Willamette Education Service District, with space for about 40 students who are recovering from substance abuse.

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