School News

The Pennsylvania House passed a bill last week that would overhaul the state’s education funding system, sending millions to Lehigh Valley schools over the next seven years. But it faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

Over the past 14 weeks, about a dozen Lehigh Valley teens participated in the pre-apprenticeship program at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 375 in Allentown.

The mural, by artist Mercedes Salazar, is a collaboration with Lehigh Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance, Community Action of Development of Allentown, The Chamber Foundation and Allentown Mural Arts.

The grant program would allow schools to recruit students, paraprofessionals and other community members to pursue a career in education. It passed the House with bipartisan support last year but has been stuck in committee in the Senate since then.

Opposing forces came to a head during a discussion about public use of Easton Area School District's Cottingham Stadium, with talks of potential costs, liability, and a connection to the public dominating the conversation.

Bethlehem native Julianna Rodrigues, who has a form of muscular dystrophy, was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Collaborative at Moravian University, on Tuesday morning.

The East Penn School Board approved the district's 2024-25 budget with a property tax increase of 4.12% It maintains existing programs and staff positions sought by school administrators.

A Democratic-sponsored proposal to boost public school funding by billions and impose stricter rules on cyber-charter schools is on its way to the Pennsylvania Senate after passage in the state House.

Says Cathy Leibensperger, Saucon Valley High School's wrestling scorekeeper for 44 years: “I look at the other inductees and I see people that have traveled the world, people that coached champions — I’m just a little scorekeeper from a little high school in Hellertown, Pennsylvania.”

Aryash Shyam and Sudha Chandrasekaran, sixth-graders from Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School, won first place at the state competition of National History Day earlier this spring. They compete in the national round of the contest next week with their exhibit on the Great Depression.

Police said Stephanie Williams, 39, kicked out the window of a police car during a Sept. 13 incident at Bucky Boyle Park.

Policy revisions to freedom of speech, educator misconduct and tobacco/vaping use were approved by the Whitehall-Coplay School Board on Monday night.

Bethlehem Area school directors approved a resolution Monday to withhold some charter school payments amid the state budget impasse. Full payments will resume and back pay will be issued once state funding is available.

Amelia Coleman was appointed as ASD's newest deputy superintendent. Her contract runs until June 30, 2029.

School directors on Thursday approved agreements with the district's administrative employees, administrative assistants and cafeteria managers.

Allentown Education Association President Leslie Franklin spoke at Thursday's school board meeting about staffing shortages and administrator turnover. But the district said staffing is strong.

A Palmerton Area principal was tapped for the BASD role. He'll take over for the acting principal who has been leading Hanover Elementary since last spring when the school's previous leader was arrested for drunken driving.

JOSHWAY, a local youth-focused nonprofit organization, is holding the community event Saturday. Registration is required.

The grant will be used to help replace all 91 windows with historically accurate, insulated glass and wood models to "enhance the building’s energy efficiency while preserving its historical integrity," a news release says.

The Centennial Comprehensive Campaign will raise funds to update the school's athletic fields, create teacher grants and more.

The superintendent said his administration may recommend a resolution as early as next month to let BASD temporarily withhold 30% of charter school tuition payments.

Stephanie Williams was placed on administrative leave indefinitely after an incident over the weekend. The district's executive director of instructional leadership will serve as the middle school's acting principal.