School News

The East Penn school board approved a 2025-2026 budget Monday which will raise property taxes by 0.84 mills, the most allowed under state law without a referendum.

School directors approved the final 2025-26 budget Monday. The district increased taxes, cut spending and dipped into savings to balance the $373.2 million spending plan.

Nestled between John Makuvek Field and Priscilla Payne Hurd Academic Complex, the Main Street North Campus’ 70,000-square-foot, four-floor centerpiece dedicated to student wellness is set to open in the fall.

Arts Academy Charter Middle School in Salisbury Township dedicated the school building in honor of outgoing executive director William Fitzpatrick.

A family whose association with Muhlenberg College has stretched for 85 years has made a $1 million gift to the school to establish a business professorship. In addition, the gift will be matched by $1 million more from a previous benefactor's estate, the college announced Friday.

The sale will take place rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Broughal Middle School football field, 114 W. Morton St., in South Bethlehem.

Through the digital equity program, students, teachers and some other staff members at the Allentown schools will get an iPad equipped with a keyboard and 24/7 internet access.

A $50,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education will help create employment opportunities in the polymer, or plastics, industry.

Easton Area School District is moving forward with a final proposed budget set to be voted upon in late June, though it comes with a 3.5% tax increase which will help fund the new high school.

The victim was a Bethlehem Township resident and junior at Freedom High School, according to township Police Chief Gregory Gottschall. Authorities say a criminal investigation is underway.

Athletic competition could soon return to parts of Pennsylvania. WESA’s Sarah Schneider reports that new preliminary guidance was released Wednesday, June 10.

The nation’s highest honor for graduating high school seniors is being named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. Only three students in Pennsylvania earned that honor this year - and two happen to not only live in the Lehigh Valley, they also go to the same school.

Bethlehem Area School District is working on contingency plans for the new school year in September.

For a full list of our reports and resources, visit WLVR.org/health and keep up with the latest news on this situation on our Live Blog.

All schools in the Allentown School District and the Easton Arts Academy are closed today and tomorrow amid concerns around the coronavirus. Multiple sources are reporting the Easton case is related to a student’s travel to New York.

The global coronavirus outbreak is disrupting spring break travel and study abroad classes for local colleges.

Penn State University Lehigh Valley broke ground on a 14.4 million dollar addition to its Center Valley campus yesterday.

Schools in the Lehigh Valley are collecting shoes this month for a local nonprofit called “Kindness is Magic.”

Bethlehem-based Lehigh University has cancelled its study-abroad program in Italy.

With the coronavirus outbreak causing school closures in the state of Washington, educators across the country are preparing for the possibility of having to do the same. The CDC’s director said last week students should prepare to attend virtually.

Local Lehigh Valley colleges are confronting the risk of infection for students studying overseas and traveling for spring break.

The Allentown School district is building a new school along Gordon St. between 12th and 13th Streets to replace two of its elementary buildings.