School News

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with journalists Molly Bilinski and Phil Gianficaro.

Nancy A. Walker, Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor & Industry, was in Allentown on Thursday to announce $4.2 million in Industry Partnership grants for projects statewide that will prepare state workers and high school seniors for family-sustaining jobs.

Bethlehem school board looks to take action on Feb. 26 regarding the $1,291,075 purchase of 2,500 Google Chromebooks, including styluses and chargers for each device.

To meet security and safety concerns, a security officer may be on the way to each of East Penn School District's middle Schools.

A change.org petition opposing the new mascot chosen by the Whitehall-Coplay School District has attracted more than 1,200 signatures. The mascot, named Big Z, is so named in honor of the school name Zephyr, which was also a train that once ran through Whitehall Township.

Planned upgrades include new bullpens and batting cages and many renovations throughout the park.

To help female chess players in her native Botswana, Lehigh University graduate student Besa Masaiti established a chess tournament there — the Besa Masaiti WIM Norm Chess Championship.

Five Lehigh Valley schools have rifle teams that compete in the Northeast Pennsylvania Rifle League. Says one student: “We want to get more people involved and show it’s totally safe. Sometimes, our sport gets a bad rap because of what’s going on (in the world).”

Parkland School District Social Worker Diane Irish has begun hosting office hours for the Parkland REACH Village, a gathering space and community hub of information for anyone who lives in the district.

The Allentown School Board approved updates to programs that add new language and career training options for students. Some of the changes are the result of a survey of more than 1,800 high school students and focus groups, officials said.

Also citing presidential executive orders, NASD could up going over its coursework with a fine-tooth comb.

Northampton Area School Board approved its role in the deal, while Bethlehem Area School Board is up for the same vote in the coming weeks.

A draft version of East Penn School District's budget for the 2025-2026 school year includes a 0.84-mill tax hike. The district has raised property taxes nine times in the past 10 years.

V Spehar became famous for UnderTheDeskNews, explaining complex topics in a conversational, to-the-point fashion. On Thursday night, Spehar gave a Q&A with Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble.

The interim principal will take over for Harrison Bailey III, who has accepted the position of superintendent of the Wilson Area School District. A search is underway for someone to fill the job permanently.

The Wilson Area School Board approved the appointment of Amy Austin as the new assistant superintendent. She had been the district's director of curriculum and instruction since 2023 and is a former principal.

The Bethlehem Area School Board's curriculum committee said it would like to talk more with the district and its stakeholders on the future of local school sports programming.

Lehigh Valley Health Network Childcare Center at River Crossing YMCA observed its 100th day of operation. Services are available for LVHN employees and other community families.

Easton Area School Board settled on a site for the new high school during its Jan. 28 meeting, but concerns over cost remain ever present.

Parkland School District Superintendent Mark Madson is the latest school official to spell out policies and procedures related to immigration. It comes as the new Trump administration cracks down on illegal immigration and has said it will allow arrests at schools.

While it doesn't have a vote in the matter, Easton Area School District's board opened up a discussion over student and community concerns linked to the controversial warehouse plan at the Easton-Wilson Borough border.

A fraction of Lafayette College's faculty signed a no-confidence motion against President Nicole Hurd. On Tuesday night, a majority of the nearly 200 faculty members who voted passed the measure.