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.

Wilson Area School Board approved a bond financing resolution that will secure at least $15 million to renovate the high school athletic fields, and up to $60 million overall for several years' worth of projects.

After implementing weapons detectors at its high schools, Allentown School District started using the machines at its four middle schools Monday.

The Bethlehem Area School District is getting $2 million in federal rebates to buy 10 more electric school buses. Officials expect the buses to be in service next school year.

In response to an audit report on equity and inclusion commissioned by the Allentown School District, Superintendent Carol Birks says lasting change requires consistent leadership, trust and time.

Representatives from left-leaning political groups gathered to raise alarm about the political donations of Pennsylvania's richest man, billionaire Jeff Yass, to right-wing super-PACs. They are accusing him of using his own funds to interfere with democracy, and say his interest in private schools could cause inequity.

The school board will have a special meeting 6 p.m. Oct. 28 to discuss the financing of the Moore and East Allen elementary school projects.

The book festival will feature workshops, poetry, lectures by authors and discussions on the environment, LGBTQ rights, diversity and the steel industry. It runs through Sunday at various locations in the city.

Parkland administrators issue public statements after former performing arts director Frank Anonia was jailed Tuesday after being charged with secretly recording a student changing in a dressing room.

Francis 'Frank' Anonia, 43, was charged by Lehigh County detectives with multiple counts of invasion of privacy, criminal use of a communication facility and other offenses, according to court records.

A recently released equity audit concluded Allentown School District needs to streamline inclusive practices across the district to better serve students of color.

The Allentown Symphony Association's El Sistema program is expanding to a new school to offer more student opportunities.

The Pennsylvania House Education Committee held a hearing on school safety and security in Harrisburg on Thursday. State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, leads the committee.