K-12 News

East Penn School Board voted Monday to pause work toward realigning grades 5-8. District officials will again study possible alternatives.

The new school is expected to serve about 1,200 Allentown students in kindergarten through eighth grade. City Center is optimistic it will be ready for the start of the 2027-28 school year.

The free event runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13. It is open to all Allentown students, families and staff. There will be free school supplies, including backpacks, available.

Allentown School District appointed Alicia Knauff as acting head principal in July. She replaced Frank Derrick, who had been leading the school in an acting role for the last two school years.

Allentown's 111th annual Romper Day celebration was held at J. Birney Crum Stadium on Monday night. About 400 students who participated in the summer playground program exhibited skills including dance and calisthenics.

Allentown students took part in STEM activities, including stepping into an airplane cockpit, when Captain Barrington Irving flew into town with some hands-on critical thinking activities from his Flying Classroom.

School directors voted 5-4 Tuesday to part ways with now former Superintendent Michael Mahon, who was on administrative leave for the last five months.

The Southern Lehigh School Board will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom of Southern Lehigh High School to vote on both a separation agreement and mutual general release agreement between the district and Superintendent Michael Mahon.

Allentown school directors approved the $1.14 million partnership Thursday. The agreement runs from next month to June 30, 2028.

Alicia Knauff will start as the new acting head principal of Allen on Monday. She was hired as the principal of the school's Ninth Grade Academy before being tapped shortly after for the acting head role.

A Thursday morning panel discussion at Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem focused on a new statewide report showing that early childhood care teachers earn less than $12 an hour and are planning to leave the industry for higher-paying jobs.

At a school board meeting Tuesday, superintendent Jaime Vlasaty defended the decision not to allow the after-school Satan club to meet on campus, saying the group violated district rules.

20-year-old Ceu Uk, of Charlotte, allegedly threatened a shooting in the Saucon Valley School District in response to an after-school Satan club being allowed to meet on district property.

Joanne Dillman, a former educator and a North Whitehall resident, is running for a seat on the Parkland School Board.

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.

As interest in the education field continues to decline, the report recommends systemic changes. A hearing of the state Senate Education Committee to examine the issue is set for this week.

The district superintendent said she was reversing course and rescinding approval for the club to use Saucon Valley Middle School. She said a violation of school board policy sparked the move.

Bethlehem Freedom High School's new Wellness Center is an area where students dealing with any type of emotional issue can go to either decompress alone and/or speak to one of four on-site therapists.

The Parkland School Board recognized student Tushar Mehta after he was chosen as the 2022 Congressional App Challenge Winner for the 7th District.

The Saucon Valley School District authorized use of its facilities to the After School Satan Club. Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty said the law prohibits the district from discriminating against religious groups wishing to use space.

The ban says public school teachers may not wear any “dress, mark, emblem, insignia" that indicates they are part of "any religious order, sect or denomination.”

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.