K-12 News

The East Penn School Board gave final approval to its 2023-24 budget and set a tax rate lower than initial projections. The new budget retains administrative priorities such as 7 reading interventionists and 6 learning support staffers.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

The Allentown School District said the STREAM Academy at the new science center at Eighth and Hamilton streets will be the first non-charter, non-private, theme-based school in the Lehigh Valley.

For 50 years, Ray Boris taught Theology at Bethlehem Catholic High School. He showed up shortly after 6 a.m. every day and didn't leave until he graded the last test.

The Bethlehem Area School District plans to appoint Maureen Leeson as assistant superintendent and chief academic officer, to take the place of Jack Silva, who will be the next superintendent. Esther Lee, president of the Bethlehem NAACP, said the district should have hired a Black candidate.

State House Democrats approved adding $1.7 billion more education spending, including more money to the poorest districts. The final budget will be negotiated with Senate leaders and the governor's office.

The nonprofit Community Action Lehigh Valley has worked for about two years to buy Cleveland Elementary School so it can turn into space for area youth.

The Lehigh County Conservation District and Dieruff High School are partnering to transform a vacant courtyard at the school into an urban garden.

A team of students from Bangor Area High School placed ninth in this year's statewide Envirothon competition, essentially a scholastic scrimmage for environmental science. The team placed first for the wildlife station.

The 21st Century program is to help students with academic support and art and music enrichment.

The Central Elementary STREAM Academy’s second campus is located on the bottom floor of the Da Vinci Science Center, 815 Hamilton St. It has classrooms and multiple lab spaces.

The Allentown School Board approved metal detectors last year for the district's three high schools and J. Birney Crum Stadium. A public meeting is set later this week for middle school safety plans and input.

The hearing, which is required by state law, informed the public about the plans and costs for the new three-story elementary school building, which will remain at the longtime Fountain Hill site at 1330 Church St.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz wowed the crowd with a campaign speech at Freedom High School in Bethlehem on Saturday afternoon.

Patillas, Puerto Rico, has been named Bethlehem's sixth sister city. Puerto Ricans make up the fastest-growing segment of Latinos in the Lehigh Valley.

Central Catholic plans to wrap up a feasibility study later this month to gauge the high school community's interest in launching a capital campaign to fund facilities improvements.

Parkland School District's Vision 2030 project to expand and renovate the high school and Orefield Middle School to address school overcrowding has increased by nearly $4 million from its original $210 million price tag.

Bethlehem Area school directors unanimously approved a three-year contract with the school district's secretarial and clerical employees.

Bethlehem Area School Board discussed Monday parting ways with Saucon Valley School District over funding disagreements about the local vo-tech. They would continue working with Northampton Area School District.

Each student will receive $3,000 per year for a maximum amount of $12,000 over their four collegiate years beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.

A local Boy Scout working on his Eagle Scout project is receiving grant money from Capital Blue Cross. His is one of a handful of initiatives receiving the money for community and educational projects.

Allentown School District is working to improve its students' busing experiences after the first few weeks of school presented transportation challenges.