School News

Bethlehem Area School District's board approved $47.6 million in contracts Monday to build the new Fountain Hill Elementary School — coming in nearly $3 million under budget.

In his latest budget proposal, Governor Josh Shapiro wants to allocate nearly $500 million to chronically underfunded school districts — and that includes several districts in the Lehigh Valley. But lawmakers have concerns around the fairness of the funding distribution.

H.B. 827 was proposed by State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton. The bill aims to establish a tutoring program in which high school students could receive academic credit for being tutors

Northampton Area School Board is discussing how it will balance its budget this year and in coming years. Solutions include tax increases and the postponement of the Moore Elementary project.

Southern Lehigh Superintendent Michael Mahon remains on administrative leave after the school board president publicly criticized his performance.

Northampton Area Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik will no longer retire at the end of this school year like he planned. The superintendent said it's not the right time for him to leave the district.

Allentown School Director Lisa Conover first joined the board in late 2017 and was re-elected in 2021. She will not run for re-election in the 2025 cycle.

After a maintenance issue closed Harrison-Morton Middle School for repairs in mid-February, students and staff learned virtually for eight days. Last week, they returned to in-person learning at temporary sites throughout Allentown.

The Northampton Area School Board approved Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik's retirement last November. The board, however, will consider rescinding his retirement during its Monday night meeting.

Southern Lehigh Superintendent Michael Mahon remains on administrative leave following public criticism of his performance from the school board president last week.

The nonprofit school based in Allentown received funds through Educational Improvement Tax Credits for the 2024-25 school year. A total of $66,000 will go toward helping low-income children.

Parkland School District presented a preliminary budget which highlighted a near $12.4 million shortfall, which could lead to a property tax increase for 2025-26.

Northampton Area School Board approved Kovalchik's retirement at Monday's school board meeting. It will be effective July 1.

Flag folding ceremonies, scholarship presentations and appreciation for veterans took center stage at DeSales University for its annual Veterans Day event.

Showstoppers Boxing Club teaches youth how to box and stay out of trouble. That’s why Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley has uplifted the boxing club as an anti-violence initiative.

Mary Beth Spirk, who was to begin her 38th year with Moravian University, won't be on the bench to start the 2024-25 women's basketball season. With 648 career wins, she ranks ninth among active NCAA Division III coaches and 21st in D-III history.

The small works auction will be held Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Civic Theatre's 514 building on Sunday, Nov. 10. Dozens of pieces will be on display.

Shows for “Ladies, How Dare You!” at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts are this weekend, at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.

Allentown School Board members received a schematic design presentation Thursday for a proposed school at the former Allentown State Hospital site off Hanover Avenue on the city's East Side.

Vietnam veteran and former Steelers running back Rocky Bleier was the keynote speaker at the Lehigh Carbon Community College veterans fundraising event at Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville on Monday night.

Students who know him described former performing arts director Frank Anonia as a manipulative figure, but they said they were still shocked at his arrest on charges of secretly recording a student in a dressing room.

LCCC offers Class A Tractor Trailer training in as little as four weeks in day, evening or weekend classes.