K-12 News

Costas Alestas, a former Bethlehem police officer and soccer coach at East Hills Middle School, intends to plead not guilty to multiple sex-related crimes involving two middle school students, his attorney said.

Parkland School Board approved a preliminary budget Tuesday that would take the millage rate from 16.30 mills to 17.12 mills — an increase of 5%. A final vote on the budget is pending.

In the midst of budget season, Easton Area School District is examining figures to trim a tax increase and bridge a multimillion dollar gap between revenue and expenditures.

The Bethlehem Area School Board passed a preliminary 2024-25 budget at a Monday special meeting. The district plans to increase taxes and pull from a surplus fund to balance the budget. The final budget will be adopted in June.

Parkland School District is likely taking on two expansion projects at Parkland High School and Orefield Middle School. More details are now coming to light about what they will look like — and how much they will cost.

Forty international students from around the globe are finishing up their school year spent in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding area soon, then will head back home to their families. International Host Family Week celebrates exchange student programs.

Pennsylvania State Police said the victim was hit by a tractor-trailer along Interstate 380 in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County. Sean Richmond, 38, was a 2004 Easton High grad and current coach and athletic director at Stroudsburg.

Nearly 45 Allentown students have participated in a new mentorship program at Lehigh Parkway Elementary School this year. The program pairs fifth-grade leaders with younger students to help them reach academic and behavioral goals.

Allentown high school students will learn about data analytics and artificial intelligence during an eight-week summer program with DeSales University in which they earn a stipend and college credits.

Allentown School District will work with a new transportation provider next school year, Student Transportation of America. The district has a number of new transportation offerings for 2024-25, including free LANTA access for charter school students.

The Parkland School District will host a Community Resource Fair, Health Symposium and New Parent Social, from 9 a.m. to noon on March 18 in the Parkland High School Cafeteria.

The presentation also included a performance by high school choral students.

The East Penn Board of School Directors discussed long term finances while casting affirmative votes to retain Superintendent Kristen Campbell, introducing online ticket sales and finalizing the school calendar for the upcoming year.

The Lehigh Valley Science & Engineering Research Fair invited students grades six through 12 from across the Lehigh Valley to present their research projects to a panel of judges.

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

The YMCA hosts its 15th annual rite-of-spring event for partiers on a budget.

Local high schools are participating in the Central East Pennsylvania Science Olympiad on March 16 at Kutztown University.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania said Tuesday that Saucon Valley School District will not reverse its decision to deny the After School Satan Club access to school facilities.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is proposing a hefty an increase in aid to Pennsylvania's schools in his first budget delivered Tuesday to the Legislature.

Chris Pirrotta, a father of three children who attend Parkland schools, announced his campaign for a seat on the Parkland School Board.

The free expo set for Saturday will showcase music, dance, martial arts and more from young artists living in the Lehigh Valley.

Easton Area School District Superintendent David Piperato is retiring in August, he announced in an email to district staff Monday morning. He's served the district since December 2019 and has decades of experience in education.