Parents shop for special programs Portland parents are shopping around for schools like never before, and a record 2,000 parents and students are expected to scrutinize their options at a School Fair this week. Oregonian 10/21/02

School food workers say yes to no raises School nutrition workers will forgo raises for two years under a tentative contract with the same union that represented school custodians who lost their jobs last summer. Oregonian 10/25/02

Personnel chief is point man for labor's ire Steve Goldschmidt gets an earful from a woman who makes $12,000 a year working in a Portland school cafeteria. Oregonian 10/21/02

Jackson wants Huck Finn pulled from class reading Portland School Board member Derry Jackson wants "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" pulled from reading lists after an African American student said he was offended by an ethnic slur used in the 1885 novel. The Oregonian 10/15/02

School district hires 1st chief of academics Patricia Pickles, superintendent of a small Chicago area school district, has been hired as Portland's first chief academic officer. Pickles, a former teacher, principal and state education official, will lead curriculum and instruction matters for Portland Public Schools.

Schools settle girl's molestation lawsuit Portland Public Schools will pay unspecified damages to a girl who was molested by a classmate at Irvington Elementary School more than two years ago, attorneys for the victim and the school district said Tuesday. 10/2/02

Protest faults disputes over special education About 30 parents and former teachers picketed a conference for special education providers Tuesday, saying Oregon and Washington school districts are wasting time and money on attorneys instead of providing services to children. Oregonian 10/2/02