School News

Costas Alesta's motion to withdraw his guilty plea filed was denied by county judge Judge Samuel P. Murray in a one-page order filed Friday, Nov. 7, county District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta said.

The Allentown School District and the Allentown School District Foundation are coordinating the emergency food drive through Friday, Nov. 14, with help from Second Harvest Food Bank and the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, introduced the bill in 2023 after a student brought a knife to Schnecksville Elementary School. Parents didn't learn of the incident until a week later.

The three-story, 19,580-square-foot academic field house is expected to open its doors on the first day of the 2026-27 school year, officials said.

The show runs at 7 p.m. today, Nov. 7, and at the same time Saturday in Emmaus High School’s auditorium. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

The winners, based on unofficial results, are Democratic candidates: Kimberly Jaramillo, Luis Melecio, Josh Rager and Chris Sykora — who ran together on a slate.

Ambassador Vinay Kwatra spoke to a crowd of more than 130 people about the collaboration between India and the United States over the past decade on topics such as defense and AI.

Unofficial results from Tuesday's election show four first-time school directors will join the board and serve for the next four years. One incumbent won a two-year term.

There were several contested school board races in Lehigh and Northampton counties for Tuesday's general election. Here are the unofficial returns as reported by the counties.

Wilson Area School District joined other members of the PSBA in sending a letter to state government urging them to pass a budget in order to get education funding to schools across the state.

If JOSHWAY meets its shoe drive goal, it will receive a $10,000 donation to fund its work supporting Lehigh Valley youth-focused nonprofit organizations.

Robert "Bob" Smith, 63, received enough write-in votes to secure the Republican nomination for the two-year term. He will compete against Democratic nominee Robert "Nick" Nicholoff, 29.

Proposed federal budget cuts would impact programs such as the free summer meal program for children in the Allentown School District.

The district has a two-year transition plan that includes enrolling middle schoolers at the academy in the 2026-27 academic year. Starting in the coming school year, the academy will replace Building 21 High School.

The free, two-week camp exposed Lehigh Valley teens to sheet metal, piping, plumbing and basic electrical work.

The district will consider the addition of a new assistant superintendent role focused on special education programming.

Some eligible Allentown residents will receive a $1,013.35 reduction to their school property taxes thanks to a state program.

School directors unanimously approved the $78.9 million budget at their Monday meeting.

Easton Area School District approved a $214 million budget for the upcoming school year. With a 3.5% tax increase to keep the district running, $3.3 million will go toward the new high school project.

School directors voted 5-4 to remove Emily Gehman as school board president. School director Stephen Maund was subsequently elected to serve out the rest of Gehman's leadership term, which ends in December.

A new analysis from East Penn's financial planners found that major renovations to Emmaus High School would require a referendum or decades of tax hikes — options school board members rejected.

The anti-violence program is funded through a $1.28 million grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The program will continue next school year.