School News

Commonwealth Charter Academy, a large, public, cyber charter school for all school-age children, plans to convert a nearly 47,000-square-foot, one-story building into office space for teachers and staff at 2200 W. Broad St.

Critics of the hiring process argued for a superintendent search instead of a direct appointment. Others said Karen Trinkle had more than proven herself ready to lead, and a search would be lengthy and costly.

Planned to open to students for the 2027-28 school year, the roughly $59 million project will go up on the same land as its predecessor facility, which dated back to the 1930s.

School directors voted 5-2 to approve Ethan Ake-Little’s resignation and settlement agreement. His resignation takes effect Aug. 31.

Southern Lehigh school directors appointed Karen Trinkle as chief of schools. They also approved a settlement agreement with Ethan Ake-Little, the HR director who filed discrimination and retaliation complaints against the former superintendent.

Ethan Ake-Little has been suspended with pay since June while the district investigated allegations about his job performance. Ake-Little previously filed discrimination, retaliation and fraud complaints against the former superintendent.

Additional cleaning and air quality testing remain underway at Sheridan and Ritter elementary schools, Allentown School District said in an update Sunday.

School directors are scheduled to vote Monday on whether to promote Assistant Superintendent Karen Trinkle to chief of schools. The proposed five-year contract comes a month after school directors voted to part ways with the previous superintendent.

Northampton Area School District’s inaugural Summer Career Mentorship Program exposed 50 high schoolers to careers in manufacturing, interior design, healthcare and more.

In an email, Allentown School District said mold spores were found in several elementary school classrooms. Remedial action has been taken, the district said in a release, and the classrooms will be tested ahead of the first day of school.

The Central Elementary STREAM Academy’s second campus is located on the bottom floor of the Da Vinci Science Center, 815 Hamilton St. It has classrooms and multiple lab spaces.

St. Luke's University Health Network is teaching parents where to look for drug paraphernalia and other dangerous substances in their teen's room. It's all part of their Drug Abuse and Recovery week.

The Allentown School Board approved metal detectors last year for the district's three high schools and J. Birney Crum Stadium. A public meeting is set later this week for middle school safety plans and input.

The hearing, which is required by state law, informed the public about the plans and costs for the new three-story elementary school building, which will remain at the longtime Fountain Hill site at 1330 Church St.

Central Catholic plans to wrap up a feasibility study later this month to gauge the high school community's interest in launching a capital campaign to fund facilities improvements.

Parkland School District's Vision 2030 project to expand and renovate the high school and Orefield Middle School to address school overcrowding has increased by nearly $4 million from its original $210 million price tag.

Katie Couric spoke to a crowd of nearly 700 as part of Lehigh University's Compelling Perspectives series. The former network news anchor addressed the role of media in contemporary society.

Bethlehem Area school directors unanimously approved a three-year contract with the school district's secretarial and clerical employees.

Bethlehem Area School Board discussed Monday parting ways with Saucon Valley School District over funding disagreements about the local vo-tech. They would continue working with Northampton Area School District.

Each student will receive $3,000 per year for a maximum amount of $12,000 over their four collegiate years beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.

It all started with a big idea and some friends willing to lend a hand. For Muhlenberg College senior Maddie Davidson, "Goodnight, Chew Street" is more than a children's book — it's a salute to the community she cherishes

Allentown School District is working to improve its students' busing experiences after the first few weeks of school presented transportation challenges.