| Boards discuss new school budget process
Although it appears unlikely that any schools on this peninsula will consolidate before July 2009, all school districts must change how their budgets are adopted this year. On Thursday, November 8, Union 49 Superintendent of Schools Eileen King and Town Managers John Anderson and Tom Woodin convened a meeting with the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD school committees and the two boards of selectmen to discuss the new school budget validation requirements and timing. A second topic of discussion was how to maintain local control of school property despite consolidation. .
Mark McCrocklin: Take control of college debt
Has lingering college debt kept you from getting on your feet financially? If so, you're probably not alone.
According to the Project on Student Debt from the National Center for Education Statistics' 2003-04 Postsecondary Student Aid Study, nearly two-thirds of college graduates racked up student loan debt by the time they earned their diploma.
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Bank of Montreal to take $320 million in debt-market writedowns
The Bank of Montreal announced today it is booking $320 million in writedowns arising from the turmoil in global credit markets.
BMO said the charges, to be booked in the fourth quarter ended October 31, are expected to amount to $210 million after tax.
The �valuation adjustments� at BMO Capital Markets include $170 million on trading and structured credit-related positions and preferred shares, $135 million on Canadian asset-backed commercial paper and $15 million on Links Finance Corp. and Parkland Finance Corp. structured investment vehicles (SIV).
The SIV writedown represents 21% of BMO�s $70-million investment in Links and Parkland. The bank also said it will take part in the effort to rescue these SIVs by contributing up to $1.6 billion.
In addition, BMO said �its strategy to reduce its commodities portfolio continued through the fourth quarter,� with losses of $25 million pre-tax.
Shareholders' meeting is Gates' last as chairman
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates presided over the company's annual shareholders' meeting in Redmond, Wash., yesterday, his last as a full-time employee of the software maker. He will concentrate his efforts on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. During the meeting, Gates outlined for shareholders how Microsoft's strategy of investing in innovation allows it to shape the future of technology. .
Not on the ballot again
HANOVER -- Although candidates and issues are the main focus just before election time, here in Licking County school operating levies on the ballot have become the norm. I am constantly amazed at the number of school districts, every election, that have to put operating levies on the ballot in order to stay in the black. A number of them have an issue on the ballot almost every year. It is during this time everyone in the Licking Valley Local School District should give thanks. .
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