Census says an Oregon district is among the country’s poorest, OSU hires new president: The week in education

F. King Alexander, new Oregon State president

F. King Alexander was named as Oregon State University new president Friday. He'll succeed Ed Ray, who helmed the university for nearly two decades.Photo courtesy Oregon State University

More than half of children between 5 and 17 within the boundaries of the rural Oakridge School District live in a household that falls below the poverty line, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau earlier this week.

That means the district ranks among the five poorest in the country.

The median household income in the Lane County burg, residents of which were heavily employed by a timber industry that collapsed in the ‘90s, is $34,756. The statewide figure is $56,119.

In higher education news, Oregon State University has found a successor for President Ed Ray, who held the role for nearly two decades. Louisiana State’s F. King Alexander takes over as Oregon State’s top administrator in July.

Here are the biggest education stories from Portland and beyond this week:

Other education stories from the Portland area:

Retired Beaverton teacher Enid Ashford, who also spent time teaching in Coos Bay, Corvallis and Albany, turned 100 late last month. School district officials lauded Ashford for the way she supported students during her 14 years teaching in the Portland suburb. The Beaverton Valley Times’ Courtney Vaughn reports.

Education stories from around Oregon:

Down in Eugene, the University of Oregon has created a program to preserve Native American languages. The university’s Northwestern Language Institute is partnering with the federal Administration for Native Americans for a winter term seminar led by Janne Underriner, who has long taught Native languages at both the university and at Lane Community College. The Daily Emerald’s C. Francis O’Leary reports.

School district officials in far-flung Milton-Freewater, a town of about 7,000 in Eastern Oregon, are worried about continually dropping enrollment, which this year meant less money from the state to the tune of about $500,000. The district has found itself losing residents as parents uproot their kids in search of well-paying jobs and housing, both of which are increasingly rare in the rural Oregon burg, officials said. The Walla Walla Union Bulletin’s Sheila Hagar has the details, syndicated by The East Oregonian.

And nationally:

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, whose district covers much of northwest Oregon including parts of Portland, was one of several Democratic members of the House Education Committee to press Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on the agency’s decision to restrict debt relief for former students of shuttered for-profit colleges. Bonamici, a former consumer protection lawyer, said students of attended ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian College “were misled and cheated.” The New York Times’ Erica L. Green reports.

More education headlines from The Oregonian/OregonLive:

University of Oregon reaches settlement in age discrimination case

Death of St. Helens teen wasn’t caused by meningitis as initially thought, reports say

Gresham teacher known for her personal touch wins ‘Oscar for teaching,’ $25,000 award

University of Oregon trustees award $100k bonus to President Schill (AP via The Register-Guard)

Longtime Linfield College board member David Jubb sexually assaulted student, lawsuit says

Harriet Tubman students, youth climate advocates, rally outside state transportation building Tuesday

Scathing report outlines decades of sexual abuse, inadequate response, at Catlin Gabel private school

From other Portland-area media:

District data specialist honored for equity work (The Canby Herald, subscription)

For two days in Lake Oswego, teachers become students (The Lake Oswego Review, subscription)

Wilsonville High journalism students host StoryCorps, recording history of regular folks (The Wilsonville Spokesman, subscription)

Elementary school teacher gets Beaverton human rights award (The Beaverton Valley Times, subscription)

School district stays quiet about assistant principal’s departure (The Beaverton Valley Times, subscription)

And across the state:

Corvallis School board chair plans Q&A for potential board applicants (The Corvallis Gazette-Times, subscription)

Police department, school district partner for anti-bullying campaign (The Newberg Graphic, subscription)

Parents, community sound off on North Wasco School District with plaudits, concerns (The Dalles Chronicle, subscription)

Speech coach gains Diamond rating (The Hood River News)

Schools facility report shows which Pendleton schools are nearing capacity (The East Oregonian, subscription)

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano

Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Eder at ecampuzano@oregonian.com or message either of the social accounts above.

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