More families are choosing to home-school or send their children to private schools, and the drop in public school enrollment can have financial implications for districts.
Rachel Ohm
Staff Writer
Rachel covers state government and politics for the Portland Press Herald. It’s her third beat at the paper after stints covering City Hall and education. Prior to her arrival at the Press Herald in the summer of 2019, Rachel worked at the Morning Sentinel in Waterville, covering Franklin and Somerset counties, and the Knoxville News Sentinel in Knoxville, Tennessee, covering higher education. She has a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and when she’s not writing and reporting enjoys running, cooking and traveling to new places.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News, Religion and Values
Bishop urges Maine Catholics to receive COVID vaccine, allaying concerns about use of fetal tissue
Some Catholics have questioned whether they should be vaccinated if tissue from aborted fetuses was used to develop or test the COVID-19 vaccines.
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Posted inMaine, Schools and Education
Portland superintendent presents school board with plan to end free childcare program
The proposal would draw on savings to continue funding employees added during the pandemic, but would end free childcare during hybrid learning after coronavirus relief funding ends this month.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools and Education
Staffing shortages caused by COVID exposure forcing some Maine schools to go remote
As more teachers and staff quarantine because of coronavirus exposure, school districts are struggling to find enough substitutes to keep buildings open for in-person learning.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools and Education
Death of Brunswick teen who took his life a sign of pandemic’s toll on young people
The midcoast community is mourning the loss of a high school football player whose parents have cited the coronavirus pandemic as a factor affecting their son’s mental health.
Posted inSchools and Education
Figdor named chairwoman as Portland school board welcomes 3 new members
Emily Figdor, first elected to the school board in 2018, will take over as chairwoman while Jeff Irish, Aura Russell-Bedder and Yusuf Yusuf also formally joined the board Monday night.
Posted inMaine, Schools and Education
Former Portland schools superintendent Caulk dies at 49
Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Caulk led Portland Public Schools from 2012 to 2015 before taking a job as a superintendent in Kentucky, where he had recently been on medical leave.
Posted inMaine, Uncategorized
More than 61,000 Mainers still without power after weekend storm
Some Central Maine Power customers are not expected to see electricity restored until Wednesday night.
Posted inSchools and Education, Uncategorized
Portland childcare programs in jeopardy without more federal coronavirus funds
A proposal headed to the school board for discussion Tuesday would discontinue community childcare programs for students on days they’re not in school, with federal relief funding about to run out.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools and Education
Maine schools stick to in-person instruction as coronavirus numbers rise
COVID cases are increasing in schools, but officials say they have seen little evidence of transmission in school buildings and plan to continue offering in-person learning as long as it’s safe.