K-12 News

Nearly 800 students at Southern Lehigh's Joseph P. Liberati Intermediate School spent a week learning to write, address, and mail handwritten letters through the Dearist literacy program — sending holiday messages to local seniors, veterans and nonprofit groups.

Wilson Area LINCS will hold its fourth annual Photos with Santa event at the high school Saturday, offering kids a chance to meet the big man and get a photo, pick out presents and so much more.

At a Thursday reorganization meeting, the school board selected its president and vice president. Five school directors also were sworn in at the meeting, including four who are brand new to their roles.

The Whitehall-Coplay School District held its third annual Zephyr Holiday event at the Burlington store in Whitehall. Twenty-four elementary and middle school students from challenged families were given $200 gift cards to shop for holiday gifts for family members. Members of area law enforcement accompanied the children during the event.

Bethlehem Area School District is tapping one of its own to lead Hanover Elementary School. The new principal comes to the role with nearly two decades of experience in BASD.

In addition to board officer elections, four new school directors were sworn in Tuesday after having won their seats last month.

At their annual reorganization meeting Tuesday, Parkland School District's board chose new leaders and swore in four winners of last month's election.

Easton Area School District took a preliminary look at the 2027 budget Tuesday, highlighting a prospective $7 million gap, alongside several cost-saving strategies intended to help EASD rebuild its reserves.

The third time was the charm for LoriAnn Fehnel, who was sworn in as a Whitehall-Coplay School District director on Tuesday.

With the approved state budget, Bethlehem Area won't have to draw as much money from its reserves as it initially anticipated. The state budget was late by more than four months.

Police responded to a report of an armed person at Innovative Arts Academy in Catasauqua on Tuesday afternoon. An investigation is ongoing.

Fountain Hill Elementary School soon will have a new principal who will join Bethlehem Area from another local school district. The move comes as site work is underway at 1330 Church St. for the construction of a new Fountain Hill school building.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola is proposing changes to the school bus camera arm bill to improve transparency, ensure timely hearings and make the enforcement process more reasonable for drivers while preserving the essential goal of protecting students.

Southern Lehigh school directors will vote on the final version of a proposed generative artificial intelligence policy at their Oct. 27 meeting.

Even after Hispanic Heritage Month ended, Northeast Middle School in Bethlehem was alive with the sound of salsa and the aroma of arroz con gandules during BASD’s annual Hispanic Heritage celebration.

Sketch plans for an athletic complex for Allentown Central Catholic High School were reviewed by the Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Wednesday night.

The anonymous donation will be used to support the teachers and students across the district, officials from the Foundation for the Bethlehem Area School District said.

Board Treasurer Donald Carpenter thanked residents from all sides of the topic at hand for their emails in to the board. He said he received upward of 40 messages.

Allen High School's pool, which was built around 1970, has been leaking for years, causing the school to restrict access to the athletic facilities below it. It was the subject of a social media post that has gained considerable attention.

School Director Emily Gehman said Southern Lehigh has a pattern of pay disparities between female employees and their male colleagues.

“We were looking for answers that aligned with our vision as an association for the work that we want to do in the district,” said Allentown Education Association President Leslie Franklin.

The planning commission will review the sketch plans for the athletic complex Oct. 15. Central Catholic plans to fundraise for the project as part of its centennial capital campaign.