School News

The Saucon Valley School Board is set to make a decision “in the coming weeks” on whether or not to keep a school resource officer on campus, according to Lower Saucon Police Chief Thomas Barndt.

Costas Alestas, a former Bethlehem police officer and soccer coach at East Hills Middle School, intends to plead not guilty to multiple sex-related crimes involving two middle school students, his attorney said.

In the midst of budget season, Easton Area School District is examining figures to trim a tax increase and bridge a multimillion dollar gap between revenue and expenditures.

The Bethlehem Area School Board passed a preliminary 2024-25 budget at a Monday special meeting. The district plans to increase taxes and pull from a surplus fund to balance the budget. The final budget will be adopted in June.

Forty international students from around the globe are finishing up their school year spent in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding area soon, then will head back home to their families. International Host Family Week celebrates exchange student programs.

Pennsylvania State Police said the victim was hit by a tractor-trailer along Interstate 380 in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County. Sean Richmond, 38, was a 2004 Easton High grad and current coach and athletic director at Stroudsburg.

Nearly 45 Allentown students have participated in a new mentorship program at Lehigh Parkway Elementary School this year. The program pairs fifth-grade leaders with younger students to help them reach academic and behavioral goals.

Allentown high school students will learn about data analytics and artificial intelligence during an eight-week summer program with DeSales University in which they earn a stipend and college credits.

Kutztown University's jazz ensemble was recognized by DownBeat magazine for Outstanding Performance in its Student Music Awards. It's the 10th win for Kutztown's commercial music program but the first for the jazz ensemble.

Allentown School District will work with a new transportation provider next school year, Student Transportation of America. The district has a number of new transportation offerings for 2024-25, including free LANTA access for charter school students.

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.

Allentown teen among was among honorees at the 2024 Pennsylvania Registered Apprenticeship & Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Awards held at Northampton Community College on Wednesday afternoon.

Six of the nine candidates for Allentown School Board participated in the Tuesday event, which was organized by the Allentown Crime Watch Presidents’ Council in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County.

Easton Area School District's board approved a resolution detailing their opposition to the Easton Commerce Park warehouse, citing traffic and environmental concerns, at their Tuesday meeting.

Unless Francis Anonia and Lehigh County prosecutors can reach a plea deal in the coming weeks, Anonia's trial for allegedly recording an underage student without his consent will begin in September.

East Penn School District's board voted Monday to move their 2025-26 budget closer to approval.

Whitehall-Coplay School Board approved a $103 million budget proposal on Monday night. Residents told the board they can't afford another property tax hike.