School News

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick appeared at Lehigh University on Friday for a "fireside chat" in which he shared his vision to bring AI infrastructure investment to Pennsylvania — and win an "existential battle" with China.

At a Thursday reorganization meeting, the school board selected its president and vice president. Five school directors also were sworn in at the meeting, including four who are brand new to their roles.

The Whitehall-Coplay School District held its third annual Zephyr Holiday event at the Burlington store in Whitehall. Twenty-four elementary and middle school students from challenged families were given $200 gift cards to shop for holiday gifts for family members. Members of area law enforcement accompanied the children during the event.

Bethlehem Area School District is tapping one of its own to lead Hanover Elementary School. The new principal comes to the role with nearly two decades of experience in BASD.

In addition to board officer elections, four new school directors were sworn in Tuesday after having won their seats last month.

At their annual reorganization meeting Tuesday, Parkland School District's board chose new leaders and swore in four winners of last month's election.

Easton Area School District took a preliminary look at the 2027 budget Tuesday, highlighting a prospective $7 million gap, alongside several cost-saving strategies intended to help EASD rebuild its reserves.

The third time was the charm for LoriAnn Fehnel, who was sworn in as a Whitehall-Coplay School District director on Tuesday.

With the approved state budget, Bethlehem Area won't have to draw as much money from its reserves as it initially anticipated. The state budget was late by more than four months.

Members of Carly's Cause have spent the past several months building plans to meet with colleges and universities to forge new partnerships focused on off-campus housing safety.

Though some school directors supported KingSpry's work in recent months, others were critical of the firm's legal advice and communication with the board.

Rebuilding the pool complex would cost millions of dollars. One school director said new investments shouldn't be made at an "ancient" school like Allen High, which opened in 1916.

Pennsylvania lawmakers were supposed to have a budget in place July 1. Their unwillingness to fulfill their responsibility to fund state government is disrupting many providers of early learning services.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Bucks/Lehigh, was the prime sponsor of the legislation now awaiting Gov. Josh Shapiro's signature. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the state House and Senate.

The expanded facility will offer students a place to collaborate and “make critical connections to the world,” according to college President Kathleen Harring, who called it “the physical embodiment of our values.”

Allentown School District will withhold part of the tuition payments as a cost-saving measure during the state budget impasse. The budget was due nearly four months ago.

Alongside its efforts to boost the enrollment of local students, Lehigh has sought to make its education more affordable, too.

Parkland Superintendent Mark Madson, Assistant Superintendent Michelle Minotti and Chief Financial Officer Leslie Frisbie were awarded five-year extensions on Tuesday, the district said in a news release.

Parkland's school board voted unanimously Tuesday to stop payments to charter schools until a state budget is in place.

Police responded to a report of an armed person at Innovative Arts Academy in Catasauqua on Tuesday afternoon. An investigation is ongoing.

Fountain Hill Elementary School soon will have a new principal who will join Bethlehem Area from another local school district. The move comes as site work is underway at 1330 Church St. for the construction of a new Fountain Hill school building.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola is proposing changes to the school bus camera arm bill to improve transparency, ensure timely hearings and make the enforcement process more reasonable for drivers while preserving the essential goal of protecting students.