K-12 News

Bethlehem Area School District's board approved $47.6 million in contracts Monday to build the new Fountain Hill Elementary School — coming in nearly $3 million under budget.

In his latest budget proposal, Governor Josh Shapiro wants to allocate nearly $500 million to chronically underfunded school districts — and that includes several districts in the Lehigh Valley. But lawmakers have concerns around the fairness of the funding distribution.

H.B. 827 was proposed by State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton. The bill aims to establish a tutoring program in which high school students could receive academic credit for being tutors

Northampton Area School Board is discussing how it will balance its budget this year and in coming years. Solutions include tax increases and the postponement of the Moore Elementary project.

The free expo is now in its seventh year and will occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Southern Lehigh Superintendent Michael Mahon remains on administrative leave after the school board president publicly criticized his performance.

Northampton Area Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik will no longer retire at the end of this school year like he planned. The superintendent said it's not the right time for him to leave the district.

Allentown School Director Lisa Conover first joined the board in late 2017 and was re-elected in 2021. She will not run for re-election in the 2025 cycle.

After a maintenance issue closed Harrison-Morton Middle School for repairs in mid-February, students and staff learned virtually for eight days. Last week, they returned to in-person learning at temporary sites throughout Allentown.

Formed in 2008, local weekend event in May features separate day of beer and wine tastings, followed by a for-kids-only day of art and science fun.

Easton Area School Board settled on a site for the new high school during its Jan. 28 meeting, but concerns over cost remain ever present.

Parkland School District Superintendent Mark Madson is the latest school official to spell out policies and procedures related to immigration. It comes as the new Trump administration cracks down on illegal immigration and has said it will allow arrests at schools.

While it doesn't have a vote in the matter, Easton Area School District's board opened up a discussion over student and community concerns linked to the controversial warehouse plan at the Easton-Wilson Borough border.

Bethlehem Area School District's board of education accepted conditions of approval linked to plans for a new Fountain Hill Elementary School during their Wednesday, Jan. 27 meeting.

State officials announced the theme for this year’s annual tick-themed art contest, “Protect. Check. Remove.” Last year, there were no winners in the Lehigh Valley.

Tenth graders at William Allen High School in Allentown unveiled a mural they created with the help of local artist Kyle Edwards. The PA State GEAR UP program funded the project.

Superintendent Carol Birks said the district is working with its attorneys to determine responses to President Donald Trump's recent immigration changes.

The school district will know more about what its state funding looks like next month. Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his budget address the first week of February.

The USA Luge Challenge is coming back to Blue Mountain Resort on Jan. 25-26. The competition previously scouted out talent at Blue Mountain and is looking to do so again, while also encouraging public participation in the sport.

Lehigh Valley Health Network and the Easton Area Community Center’s St. Anthony’s Youth Center received state grants to support violence prevention and out-of-school programs. The $1.1 million in funding will enhance community efforts to reduce violence and grow youth development initiatives.

Shapiro highlighted his administration's historic investments in K-12 public education in the last two years before his budget address in the first week of February.

Francis Anonia, a former Parkland High School performing arts teacher, was arraigned in Lehigh County Court on Friday morning on charges he used his cell phone multiple times to secretly record a male student in a school changing room in 2022. If found guilty of all 19 charges, he could face up to 88 years in prison.