The latest federal coronavirus stimulus package is the largest Lehigh Valley schools have seen. They're just beginning to think about how to spend it. Here are the challenges they face.
Bidding wars heat up home sales: How many properties are for sale in each Lehigh Valley school district
Updated Mar 01, 2021;
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Presidents Day weekend notoriously marks the unofficial start of the spring housing market, but for those wanting to nab a property, they likely will have to empty their wallets in order to make the deal, area real estate experts say.
Bidding wars remain off the charts, even as home prices continue to rise rapidly. The limited amount of inventory available in the Lehigh Valley, agents say, is causing some prospective buyers to bid tens of thousands over asking prices, bring cash offers to the table, waive inspections and pen letters to sellers expressing passion for homes.
2 of Lehigh Valley’s biggest districts weigh bringing elementary students back for more days
Updated Feb 22, 2021;
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The Bethlehem and Easton area school districts are considering bringing elementary students back for more full-time instruction this spring.
Bethlehem is studying returning hybrid K-5 students to in-person instruction five days a week, starting April 11, the start of the fourth marking period, Superintendent Joseph Roy said in a video message sent Monday to district parents.
Easton is taking a different sort of approach, floating the idea of returning K-2 students four days a week once Northampton County drops to moderate spread of the coronavirus for two consecutive weeks, according to a presentation Superintendent David Piperato made to the school board last week.
Which Pa. schools had the largest number of arrests in 2019-20?
Updated Feb 15, 2021;
The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s annual Safe Schools report for the 2019-20 school year showed a noticeable drop in reported arrests.
Districts are required to submit their misconduct reports, both criminal and academic infractions, to the state every year. Reporting sometimes changes from year-to-year, but no changes were made last school year.
Last year, the top three criminal reasons why students were in trouble statewide were:
Possession, use, or sale of tobacco or vaping 8.34 percent
Fighting 8.14 percent
Minor altercation 5.42 percent
Here’s a list of the schools that had the largest number of arrests, and the crime that was most common at each school.
Why some local districts have added in-class school days while Easton, others balk
Updated Feb 14, 2021;
Posted Feb 14, 2021
Families join in a Rally to ReOpen Lehigh Valley Schools on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, where Mickley Road, Main Street and Schadt Avenue intersect in Whitehall Township.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com
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Approaching a year since COVID-19 forced students out of the classroom and parents into the role of teachers’ aides, Lehigh Valley schools have begun adding more in-school days.
But it’s not an easy switch, nor is understanding the changing and sometimes confusing recommendations on balancing education and safety, school officials say.