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 2nd annual Parkland Community Resource Fair & Health Symposium will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Parkland High School cafeteria.

The event, put on by St. Luke's University Health Network and the Foundation for the Bethlehem Area School District, featured some striking auction items, as well as live music.

Early budget discussions among the East Penn School Board show expenses are projected to significantly increase in the next five school years.

The Bethlehem Area School District alerted parents Monday morning that East Hills Middle School would be dismissing students at 10 a.m.

Penn State University and Moravian University have gone the digital route. Lehigh University is considering such a move, officials say.

Considered by friends and colleagues a staple of the Lehigh Valley theater scene, 60-year-old Bill Mutimer died earlier this week. Tributes are pouring in from former students and local theater aficionados.

Five local women spoke about how they overcame bullying and racism in the workplace during an International Women's Day program at Ben Franklin TechVentures.

Three elementary schools in the Lehigh Valley hosted Lehigh Valley Reads events, underscoring the importance of grade-level literacy by third grade.

Sally R. Campbell was a longtime Bethlehem Area School District teacher who chaired the English department at Liberty High School. She volunteered as a judge until recently and wrote many of the questions for the PBS39 quiz show "Scholastic Scrimmage."

In a race against the clock, tech students from six schools solve an obstacle course of mechanical problems. The most effective mechanic wins a new GMC truck for their school.

Wilson Area School District has posted their special education comprehensive plan for 2024-2027 on their website for public review.

Dozens of job hunters dropped by CareerLink's Allentown facility as the science center looks to double its staff.