K-12 News

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.

Lessons in hands-on healthy eating — and growing food locally — are in the near future of some younger students in Lehigh County.

Peter Langman, an expert on the psychology of school shooters, spoke at Wednesday's 26th KidsPeace National Conference in Orefield.

Allentown School Board member Phoebe Harris has been barred from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association's annual meeting after she seized a microphone at an awards dinner and accused the group of racist behavior.

Student alerted security, which then apprehended the individual without incident.

The rink, which again will be erected in front of the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage at the foot of the blast furnaces, is scheduled to open Nov. 22 and run through Jan. 5.

State and county grants helped bring both a significant revamp of the playground at the Township Community Center off Farmersville Road, as well as a mile of new trail and other amenities for the Housenick Park Trails system on Christian Spring Road.

Easton Area School District signed off an agreement with the city, which will see them contribute $30,000 to improve Vanderveer Park's basketball courts, with the city covering the cost of labor.

State Rep. Mike Schlossberg and mental health experts advocated for an increased investment in school-based health clinics at a news conference at Hays Elementary School in Allentown on Friday.

Allentown School District's Interim Superintendent Carol Birks is vowing to build trust with community members by holding a November community forum. She said, "Given the opportunity, I will stay in this community."

The protesters spoke on the need for transparency and worry about corruption in the Allentown School District in the wake of John Stanford's removal.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and Carol Birks discussed ways to work together, and how the acting schools chief can build trust with community members.

The 77-year-old motorist received two citations and will not face serious criminal charges in the death of teacher's aide Angela Yowakim, the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office said.

More than 100 teens gathered to learn and to share tips on how to deal with tough times.

State data shows that low-income school districts are more challenging to operate, and the Allentown School District is one of them.

Board Director Craig Neiman, who represents Region 2, resigned due to work schedule conflicts.

The Allentown school board names Connecticut educator Carol Birks to run the district until a new superintendent is hired.

Community members supportive of ASD Superintendent John Stanford protested his firing by the Allentown school board Wednesday morning at the Lehigh County Courthouse. Stanford's last day on the job is Friday.

Hundreds of students were seen outside the school on Third Street in South Bethlehem as police responded to the incident on Monday. Officers blocked streets in the area and students and staff were moved to a nearby location.

Allentown school board approved a separation agreement with Superintendent John D. Stanford at Thursday's school board meeting. The terms and reason for the dismissal have not been disclosed.

The Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School is well on its way to moving in to its new location on Avenue C in Bethlehem by next school year.