School News

Pennsylvania's counties, school districts and social service agencies are warning of mounting layoffs, borrowing costs and damage to the state’s safety net as the politically divided state government enters its fourth month of a budget stalemate.

In an hour-and-a-half public comment section, numerous parents and residents called on Easton Area School District to fire a school nurse supervisor over controversial social media posts.

Candidates for East Penn School Board will participate in a forum tonight at the Univest Public Media Center organized by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. There are seven candidates on the ballot, vying for four seats.

PBS39 broadcast and livestreamed the event, the first of four such candidate forums put on by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. All but one Allentown candidate attended the Monday event to discuss their reasons for running.

Candidates for Allentown School Board will participate in a forum tonight at the Univest Public Media Center organized by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. Seven of the 8 candidates on the ballot are expected to participate.

In the past couple weeks, two elementary school students have managed to wander out of their respective schools unattended. Allentown School District said it's implementing a buddy system.

The hourlong program starts at 6 p.m. tonight and examines the impact of plans by the Trump administration to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and give control to state and local leaders.

Police said Stephanie Williams, 39, kicked out the window of a police car during a Sept. 13 incident at Bucky Boyle Park.

Policy revisions to freedom of speech, educator misconduct and tobacco/vaping use were approved by the Whitehall-Coplay School Board on Monday night.

Bethlehem Area school directors approved a resolution Monday to withhold some charter school payments amid the state budget impasse. Full payments will resume and back pay will be issued once state funding is available.

Rep. Peter Schweyer, chair of the House Education Committee, said a short timetable will likely limit how much lawmakers can change basic education funding in Gov. Josh Shapiro's first budget.

Authorities say several schools were targeted, including Allen High School in Allentown and Catasauqua High School. Police and parents rushed to the schools.

Leaders of the Lehigh Valley's two largest school districts say Gov. Josh Shapiro's education budget doesn't go far enough.

Students, parents and area residents responded to a pledge by some Republican candidates to out transgender students and censor "woke" curriculum in the Southern Lehigh School District.

The East Penn school board heard proposals as part of the budget process to hire 7 reading interventionists for elementary school students in the 2023-24 school year while also seeing presentations for policy amendments and a presentation on middle school grading procedures.

The board's preliminary budget for 2023-24 includes a nearly $7 million funding gap, plus $1.7M in staff positions covered by one-time grants.

Just days after Superintendent Joseph Roy announced he will retire in July, the Bethlehem Area School District announced Assistant Superintendent Jack Silva will be considered for the top job. A school board vote is set for April 24, according to a district statement.

Warmkessel's legislative priorities include transparency in the board, not raising taxes and "lowering standards" for academics in the district. She says school staff are now "more concerned with kids' pronouns and their feelings" than curriculum.

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.

The students of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Bethlehem are planning a mental health awareness social media campaign.

The move comes after secret investigation wrapped up last month without findings released

Commuters and students can complete classwork or attend virtual classes at DeSales Allentown, which will also be open to residents, businesses and alumni.