Lehigh Valley educators rally for lawmakers to increase school funding by at least $1.15B Posted May 06, 2021 Lehigh Valley educators rallied for increased state funding for education May 6, 2021, at Marvine Elementary School. Bethlehem schools Superintendent Joseph Roy is seen speaking.Screenshot Facebook Share Pennsylvania educators gathered across the state Thursday to urge state lawmakers to increase basic education funding by at least $1.15 billion next school year. At one of six rallies statewide, Lehigh Valley school leaders and board members gathered outside of Marvine Elementary School in Bethlehem to talk about how before the COVID-19 pandemic, skyrocketing employee pension, charter school tuition and special education costs left districts cash-strapped. Now to recover from the pandemic districts need sustained state funding to help them recover, speakers said.