With more teens feeling hopeless and suicidal, Maine schools, kids and parents struggle to deal with a technology that’s changed a generation. As principal of Oxford Elementary School, Tiffany Karnes has seen smartphone users start young. Like 7 years old young. “It would not be unusual to see a first- or second-grader who has a […]
schools
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Lots of talk, little action in Congress after shootings
WASHINGTON (AP) — For a brief moment after the Las Vegas massacre last fall, Republicans and Democrats in Congress talked about taking a rare step to tighten the nation’s gun laws. Four months later, the only gun legislation that has moved in the House or Senate instead eases restrictions for gun owners. The October deaths […]
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Posted inPerspective, sj-web
DC graduation scandal shows how chronic absenteeism threatens America's schools
Each year in the United States, approximately 5 to 7.5 million students in the nation’s K-12 schools miss a month or more of school. That means 150 to 225 million instructional days are lost every school year. The problem is more pronounced in low-income urban communities throughout the country. In elementary school, for example, students […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Wednesday storm could delay last day of school
For now, the last scheduled day of school in Lewiston and Auburn is Friday, June 15. A snowstorm expected Wednesday could change that. “Wednesday isn’t looking good,” Lewiston Superintendent Bill Webster said. A winter storm watch is in effect for most of Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters said they expect significant snowfall […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Bill would restore money slashed from Maine school-based health clinics
School-based health clinics that were forced to slash programs after having their funding unexpectedly cut in last year’s budget deal may get a one-time infusion of unspent state funds to restore services that are often a critical source of health care for some of the state’s lower-income students and families. The Legislature’s Health and Human […]
Posted inNews
Bus failures close schools
Classes were canceled at several schools in Western Maine on Tuesday because the extreme cold rendered buses inoperable, SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said. “There were too many buses that wouldn’t start,” he said. SAD 44 includes Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock. Murphy said the temperature at his Bethel home Tuesday morning was minus 12 […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Schools getting more funding; Lewiston-Auburn tax bills lowered
LEWISTON — When Lewiston and Auburn voters decided the school budget in May and June, the two superintendents promised if the state provided more money for education it would be used to lower tax bills. State lawmakers did provide more money, and the numbers have been released by the Maine Department of Education. The superintendents […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
New ELHS: Renovate or build?
AUBURN — As work continues on building a new Edward Little High School, the Building Committee Tuesday night was given a draft list of advantages and disadvantages to build new or renovate the existing school. If this feels like deja vu, it is. The same question was debated in 2013 by a different committee, but that […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Advice to eighth-graders: ‘Roll up your sleeves; you’ve got this’
LEWISTON — When she was a Lewiston Middle School student, Suzie Assam was often sad over the death of her mother. “My weight yo-yoed all over the place,” she said. She wasn’t popular. In college, she endured anxiety attacks and depression. Still, “here I am on the stage, a confident, happy, complete person,” Assam, 25, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Greene voters say no, but MSAD 52 school budget passes
TURNER — MSAD 52 voters passed the new school budget Tuesday night. Superintendent Kimberly Brandt said the overall vote was 93 in favor, 75 against. Turner voted 41-33. Leeds voted 36-23. Greene alone turned the budget down, 16 in favor, 19 opposed. The $26.1 million budget represents a 2.2 percent increase over the current year. […]