School News

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.

The annual Freddy Awards will take place at the State Theatre in Easton on May 23. Bangor Area High School's "Mean Girls: the High School Version," leads in nominations this year. Find a full list of the nominees here.

Lehigh used its HawkWatch alert system Sunday to inform the campus community of events as they were happening.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

A team of Emmaus High School students placed first in the Lehigh County Conservation District’s Envirothon the last week of April.

Schools Superintendent Carol Birks hosted the forum. She said she wanted to make sure the public understands how the district is spending its money.

The $25,000 fund, offered by Lehigh and Northampton counties, will be used to support the schools' Aevidum program.

Easton's branch of the American Association of University Women is holding its annual Girls Recognition Night Thursday at the Nurture Nature Center. Seventh graders from Easton, Wilson, Nazareth and Bangor area middle schools will be honored.

Students at Lehigh Elementary School could soon win a visit from the Harlem Globetrotters. The school already won $1,000 as national finalists in a creativity challenge on the subject of basketball.

Parkland School District Superintendent Mark Madson presented different options to address student population growth at a town hall meeting.

Lehigh Valley state Rep. Mike Schlossberg's legislation to create more local teachers received the support of 19 Republicans and now moves to the state Senate.

Muhlenberg College is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its radio station with a special concert on Thursday, May 4 at the Saengerbund.

Easton mayoral candidates Peter Melan and Sal Panto Jr. will partake in an audience-driven debate at Lafayette College Monday, May 8.

A federal judge issued an injunction Monday allowing the After School Satan Club to meet three times on district property this school year.