K-12 News

Candidates discussed the ethical use of AI in classrooms, how to keep school property taxes low and the district's upcoming plans for transitioning to a full-day kindergarten program.

Candidates for Southern Lehigh School Board participated in a forum Tuesday at the Univest Public Media Center organized by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. There are seven candidates on the ballot, vying for four seats.

After a round of public interviews Monday, school directors chose David Gogel, 74, to fill a vacancy. He previously served on the school board for 20 years.

The League of Women Voters of the Lehigh Valley organized a forum Monday for all six candidates funning for the Parkland School Board. It was held at the Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem.

Liberty High School Principal Brandon Horlick said, “I feel like while students might not like the idea of being electronic device-free during instructional timeframes, they’ve risen to the occasion."

In a video posted to social media platforms Thursday, Stephanie Williams, 39, said she has bipolar disorder and experienced a manic episode on Sept. 13 at Bucky Boyle Park in Allentown.

The complex will have both a turf field and track for use by multiple athletic teams. It also will be opened up to Central Catholic's partner schools for younger students to have field days.

In an hour-and-a-half public comment section, numerous parents and residents called on Easton Area School District to fire a school nurse supervisor over controversial social media posts.

PBS39 broadcast and livestreamed the event, the first of four such candidate forums put on by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. All but one Allentown candidate attended the Monday event to discuss their reasons for running.

In the past couple weeks, two elementary school students have managed to wander out of their respective schools unattended. Allentown School District said it's implementing a buddy system.

Easton Area School District is on the cusp of launching a new program to bring credit-deficit students up to date, and ultimately prevent dropouts.

This week, how to spot the first traces of the young crescent moon that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

In a 29-second video, the Northeast Middle School teacher can be seen pushing a male student, pinning him up against a chalkboard and forcing him to knock into a desk. The Bethlehem Area School District and the county's Children & Youth division are investigating.

The fifth annual Be My Neighbor Day was held Saturday at Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem. Children participated in crafts and gardening activities, interactive musical performances, and meet-ups with Daniel Tiger.

River Crossing YMCA announced it will manage the pool, at 3900 Jacoby Road, Coopersburg for the 2025 season. The pool will operate May 24 through Sept. 1, and be open noon-8 p.m. for general summer swim memberships.

YWCA-Bethlehem will hold its annual Pop-up Prom Shop this Saturday.

The BASD Superintendent’s Scholarship is in its 10th year. Every spring, a senior from each of Bethlehem Area's two high schools — Freedom and Liberty — is selected for the award.

Township zoners approved BCS’s special exception request to use a residential property at 5575 Green Pond Road as an office and work it into plans for a new school at the subject property.

Driver education programs have dwindled in public schools across Pennsylvania, but still offer benefits. In the Lehigh Valley, only 5 school districts offer instruction of some kind. The local intermediate units and private driving schools fill in the gaps.

Superintendent Jack Silva spoke about the district's opportunities for career readiness experiences. As for challenges, Silva said the Trump administration's executive orders have raised concerns for BASD.

Schweyer, chairman of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee, said the department handles many important functions for public K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

The North Whitehall Township Planning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend waiving the land development approval process for a proposed new barn at the Lehigh Valley Zoo.