Castillo will lobby for school budget boost Oregon's school superintendent-elect Wednesday geared up for the June special session of the Legislature that will have to wrestle with an extra $220 million hole in the state public school budget. Oregonian 5/23/02

School budget shortfall grows longer Portland's $36 million school budget hole will grow to $58 million if lawmakers can't forge a plan next month to offset a funding measure that was defeated in Tuesday's primary election. Oregonian 5/23/02

Beaverton stretches after-school aid for needy kids Three elementary schools are trying to eke a fourth year out of a $1.5 million federal grant for after-school programs by cutting extracurricular offerings, charging small fees and recruiting dozens of volunteers. Oregonian 5/23/02

Castillo wins school post as voters repudiate Bunn Susan Castillo sees her victory in the state school superintendent's race as a vote of confidence in public schools because she campaigned as a staunch backer of Oregon's school reform act. KATU 5/23/02

KGW Poll: Voters Want More School Money
How would you improve education in Oregon? While one in six Oregon voters say they “don’t know” what public education’s key challenges are, one in four maintain the state’s educational system simply needs “more money,” according to a new KGW poll. 5/15/02

Portland schools sprint toward custodian deal Portland school officials are rapidly arranging a deal that would replace longtime custodians with disabled workers in a first-ever venture for Oregon schools. Oregonian 5/15/02

In school funding, it all comes down to taxes Listen to almost any candidate this spring and you'll hear that they support "stable, long-term funding" for schools. No one quite says, however, what that means. Oregonian 5/15/02

Portland custodians oppose disabled taking their jobs Portland school custodians are taking aim at disabled workers who may be in line to do the same work for lower pay. Oregonian 5/12/02.

Switching schools, at a priceFor years, suburban students who wanted to transfer to a Portland school needed only a signature from a school administrator. Moving from one district to another was such a casual practice, few districts even paid attention to how many students came and went. The Oregonian 5/12/02

School cuts spur strike talk Portland teachers already are talking strike as the union opens contract negotiations this month that will decide class size, the length of the school year and how many teachers will be laid off this fall in Oregon's largest school system. Oregonian 5/5/02

Head of teachers union weighs in on Portland schools With 2.7 million members, the National Education Association is the nation's oldest and largest teachers union. Bob Chase runs it. The former middle school teacher from Connecticut came to Portland recently to speak to 600 union members at their annual state assembly. As Portland teachers gear up for contentious contract negotiations, The Oregonian talked with Chase about budgets and bargaining. Here are excerpts. Oregonian 5/5/02

Heading school board redefines 'tough' The most important milestone in Debbie Goldberg Menashe's public life as chairwoman of the Portland school board -- hiring a superintendent -- had veered onto a collision course with the most important event in her family life: the bat mitzvah of her daughter, Sara. Oregonian 5/6/02

School funding measure sizes up budget gap Lawmakers know they'll almost certainly be back in Salem next month digging their way out of another budget hole. What they don't know is how deep the hole will be. The shortfall could be less than $200 million. Oregonian 5/3/02

Superintedent Candidates Make Spelling Gaffes Spelling mistakes are an everyday part of life, but they stand out a little more when they're made by the people who are competing for the job as the state's chief education official. KGW 5/2/02