With Marilynn Berner retiring as Northgate's director of finance and operations at the end of September, the Northgate School Board has hired her replacement.

Christopher Urso was hired with a two-year contract at a salary of $66,000 per year. His 2011-12 salary will be pro-rated.

Ursu already has begun work at Northgate in order to be able to take over the district's business office in October.

The Northgate School District has been chosen to become a model school for the education of autistic children.

Ruth Strasser, Northgate’s director of special services, told the school board Monday that Northgate was chosen to participate in a National Inclusive Education Initiative that is being managed at the University of New Hampshire.

Northgate is one of 20 schools chosen to be demonstration models for inclusive practices for autistic children. Last year, the state offered a similar program.

Broadway arrives in the North Boroughs this week, with the staging of two standards of American musical theater at local high schools.

Northgate students will take audiences back to the era of Elvis and the earliest days of rock 'n roll with its production of "Bye Bye Birdie," while Avonworth students will drop back a few years more, to the Roaring ‘20s, with its presentation of "Mame."

With only one senior lost to graduation, the Northgate Flames girls' varsity basketball team hopes that game-time experience will lead the way to improving on Northgate's one-win season last year.

Head coach Bill Quinn, who is in his second year as the varsity coach, said the Flames have three returning seniors this year, two of whom will start.

Seniors Erica Benny, who will play center, and Karianne Hoover, playing a wing position, will captain the Northgate squad. Returning senior Carlee Mazuer will see playing time off the bench, Quinn noted.