School News

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.

WASD approved their assistant superintendent job description on Monday evening, just about a month after confirming Amy Austin for the role which entails many of her former responsibilities.

Students were all smiles as they feasted on pizza and hot dogs — and picked up free school supplies — at the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley on East Fourth Street in Bethlehem. It was the second year for the community event.

Jason Moorehead claimed the Allentown School District violated his constitutional rights and protections under a union contract when it suspended him over his attendance at the Jan. 6, 2021, "Stop the Steal" rally and ultimately fired him when he refused to return to work.

Two elementary schools and one middle school in the Bethlehem Area School District distributed free backpacks to incoming students on Friday.

New Nazareth Superintendent Isabel Resende will receive a prorated $205,000 salary for the 2024-2025 school year. She has worked for the district for 16 years.

The Nazareth Area School Board voted to promote Assistant Superintendent Isabel Resende to the district's top spot Tuesday evening. Resende will take over after the district approved a separation agreement with Superintendent Richard Kaskey Tuesday.

East Penn administrators heard a presentation on curriculum changes proposed to the district's Math and English programs, with the hopes they can remap to updated standards and meet learning acquisition and scoring challenges post-COVID.

Anthony Pidgeon, the former Allentown School District director of human resources, testified Jason Moorehead couldn't return to the classroom after posting distasteful political memes on social media following the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol Building.

Allentown School District's OneAllentown Back-to-School Bash was designed to show parents the caring nature of those who will prepare their children for their future.

The district is introducing new set of district policies governing the use and expectations regarding generative artificial intelligence, giving them a basis to train students and staff.

The Fountain Hill Planning Commission voted Monday to recommend approving plans for a new Fountain Hill Elementary School.

Improvements at aging Steckel Elementary School and Whitehall-Coplay Middle School will begin with window replacements.

Several Allentown schools need performance support, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. A presentation was given to the Allentown School Board at this week's meeting.