School News

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact or that you might want to look at again.

Christopher Schweikert, 27, of Coplay, who also is a teacher at Freedom High School, had a sexual relationship with the girl, whom he coached, according to Northampton County prosecutors.

The board had two vacancies due to the resignations of now-State Sen. Nick Miller and former Director Charlie Thiel.

The Allentown School Board will interview nine applicants to fill two board vacancies following the resignations of Board Director Charlie Thiel and state Sen. Nick Miller.

Some worry that supports for families at the schools could be lost.

Khalid Mumin, who has been superintendent of the Lower Merion School district in suburban Philadelphia for a little over a year, will be nominated for education secretary after Josh Shapiro is inaugurated on Jan. 17.

The appeal involves potential open meetings violations.

Workers and their dependents can now get up to $2,000 a year for tuition, room and board at any of the 10 Pennsylvania State System universities.

At the latest hearing for the proposed facility, both witnesses spoke about the need for recovery houses. "There's as much effort being made to get the drugs out there as to keep them also on the down-low, very silenced, so no one really can tell. And they're attacking our young population.” Julissa Pena, a witness for the applicant said.

The board may have violated transparency laws because key discussions about filling a vacancy did not happen in public, according to Melissa Melewsky, in-house counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

Isavel Mendoza will study theater at Pace University in the fall. He began writing poetry in first grade and comes from a family of artists in the Dominican Republic.

The awards show is now in its 23rd year and will take place on May 22 at the State Theatre.

The Catasauqua School Board voted to continue the football team's annual Thanksgiving Day game against Northampton. The rivalry on the gridiron is 101 years old.

Lehigh Valley Public Media has cancelled a summer enrichment program and library programming after President Donald Trump ordered a federal funding freeze to NPR and PBS last week.

A former Raub Middle School teacher is taking Allentown School District to court again, this time, for more than $3 million in legal fees he spent in the initial First Amendment retaliation lawsuit. Attorneys made their oral arguments before District Court Judge John M. Gallagher Tuesday in Allentown.

Scannell Properties offered a presentation on the need for a LERTA tax abatement to build its 1 million square-foot Easton Commerce Park warehouse during Wilson Area School District's Monday board meeting.

Bethlehem Area school directors asked the district administration to share proposed procedures for implementing cell phone restrictions at the various grade levels.

When the new Haupert Union Building at Moravian University opens in the fall, it will be pre-certified for a wellness distinction as recognized by the International WELL Building Institute.

With uncertainties surrounding state and federal funding for higher education, Lehigh Carbon Community College has begun cutting at least some staff positions.

Education advocates from POWER Interfaith held a town hall on fair funding for public schools Thursday at Resurrected Life Church in Allentown. State reps. Mike Schlossberg and Peter Schweyer attended, along with Bethlehem Area school directors.

Students from the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts will have their creations showcased at a new "Industrial Chic" exhibition at the school's Corpora Gallery. There will be a free reception Friday evening on May 2.

Parker Flamisch, a 2023 district graduate, will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of former school Director Kim Bretzik. He will finish out Bretzik's term, which ends in December.