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.

Wilson Area School District's second annual Family Computer Science Night welcomed hundreds of students to learn all about computers, AI, robots, and the future careers they could have in the field on Thursday evening.

The Allentown nonprofit is gearing up to break ground that would add around 6,000 square feet to its art school located at 510 Linden St. The state awarded $1 million through an LSA grant to the project, which is expected to cost around $5.5 million.

City Center is planning to overhaul the former Allentown State Hospital property with hundreds of new homes, offices, a school and more.

The policy would outline which AI tools are allowed for student and teacher use. It will be considered at the next regular board meeting Dec. 19.

A local youth sports nonprofit organization said it couldn't afford the $200-a-day fee to rent gym space for a basketball program. Now, some school directors want to waive fees for small community groups.

Allentown school directors elected the board president and vice president for 2025. They will serve a one-year term in their roles.

Allentown School District will receive a state review next week regarding its federal pandemic relief funding. The new policy was created to avoid a citation.

Co-sponsored by the Whitehall-Coplay School District and the Zephyr Pride Foundation, the “Shop with a Cop” program teamed 23 children from less fortunate backgrounds with 26 members of law enforcement as they shopped for clothing or toys for family members.

Superintendent Carol Birks spoke about ASD's successes over the last year and the district's path forward. She invited partners to get more involved in supporting students.

Easton Area School District's board of education elected Jodi Hess president and Nekisha Robertson vice president during a special meeting.

School directors tabled a vote on whether to renovate or rebuild Moore Elementary School. They will narrow down the options at their next facilities committee meeting later this month.

Some Northampton Area school directors are hoping Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik rethinks his retirement. They worry candidates for his job won't want to work with the school board.