Feb. 8, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
The Bethlehem Area School District Board of Directors will meet Monday to discuss the “year in Review and revenue projections,” according to the posted agenda.
The BASD board will also see a presentation on Northampton Community College’s 2026-27 budget, including contributions from local school districts. Bethlehem is the largest district in the county.
The board’s Human Resources Committee will also meet and consider a proposal to pay an interim HR Director $905.39 per day.
Bethlehem Township-based NCC projects an operating budget of $85.5 million, and a capital budget of $8.7 million. NCC is looking for $7.84 million from local school districts, including $2.93 million from the BASD, based on the chart below, from a presentation in the Monday agenda.
BASD is also looking forward to graduation for its current senior classes, with the ceremonies costing about $29,000 total, based on this item:
“That the Board of School Directors approves the Agreements with Lehigh University for the rental of Stabler Arena for the 2025-2026 graduation ceremonies at an estimated rate of $15,816.89 for Liberty High School and $13,146.47 for Freedom High School.”
The Bethlehem Area School District Board of Directors’ Finance Committee will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, at the district education center, 1516 Sycamore St. Here is a link to the board’s list of agendas. Agendas are subject to change.
Here’s the board agreement on the interim HR director with STS, the Substitute Teacher Service, based in Aston, Pennsylvania. The BASD would pay $905.39 daily under this deal, with the employment service keeping $203.54 of that, per day.
The daily rate of $905.39 works out to $4,527 per week, or about $235,404 on an annual basis.
The Finance Committee will also get a look at the 2026-27 school calendar, with graduation for Liberty on June 2, 2027, and Freedom on June 3, 2027.
2026-2027 SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR
Orientation Days – New Teachers Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Orientation Days – New Teachers Thursday, August 13, 2026
Orientation Days – New Teachers Friday, August 14, 2026
Orientation Days – New Teachers Monday, August 17, 2026
Convocation/In-service Day Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Teacher In-service Day Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Teacher In-service Day Thursday, August 20, 2026
Preparation Day – All Staff Friday, August 21, 2026
School Session Begins Monday, August 24, 2026
Schools Closed (Labor Day) Monday, September 7, 2026
Early Dismissal/Half-Day In-service Friday, September 18, 2026; Dismissals: HS at 11:00 a.m., MS 11:30 a.m., and ES 12:00 p.m.
Schools Closed (Yom Kippur) Monday, September 21, 2026
Early Dismissal/Half-Day In-service Friday, October 16, 2026; Dismissals: HS at 11:00 a.m., MS 11:30 a.m., and ES 12:00 p.m.
Early Dismissal/Half-Day (MS & HS only) Wednesday, October 28, 2026; Dismissal: HS at 11:00 a.m., MS 11:30 a.m..
Schools Closed (Teacher In-service Day) Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (Election Day)
Schools Closed (Thanksgiving) Wednesday, November 25, 2026 – Monday, November 30, 2026
Schools Reopen Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Early Dismissal/Half-Day In-service Friday, December 18, 2026; Dismissals: HS at 11:00 a.m., MS 11:30 a.m., and ES 12:00 p.m.
Schools Closed (Christmas/Winter Break) Monday, December 21, 2026 – Friday, January 1, 2027
Schools Reopen Monday, January 4, 2027
Early Dismissal/Half-Day (MS only) Friday, January 15, 2027; Dismissal: MS 11:30 a.m.
Schools Closed (Martin Luther King) Monday, January 18, 2027
First Semester Ends
Second Semester Starts
Schools Closed (Teacher In-service Day) Friday, February 12, 2027
Schools Closed (Presidents’ Day) Monday, February 15, 2027*
Early Dismissal/Half-Day In-service Friday, March 12, 2027; Dismissals: HS at 11:00 a.m., MS 11:30 a.m., and ES 12:00 p.m.
Early Dismissal/Half-Day (MS & HS only) Wednesday, March 24, 2027; Dismissals: HS at 11:00 a.m., MS 11:30 a.m.
Schools Closed (Easter/Spring Break) Thursday, March 25, 2027* – Monday, March 29, 2027*
Schools Reopen Tuesday, March 30, 2027
Schools Closed PRIMARY ELECTION DAY – DATE TBD
Schools Closed (Memorial Day) Monday, May 31, 2027
Liberty Graduation Wednesday, June 2, 2027
Freedom Graduation Thursday, June 3, 2027
Last Day of Instruction for K-11 Monday, June 7, 2027
Teacher Record Day Tuesday, June 8, 2027*
B-Flex/In-service Wednesday, June 9, 2027
B-Flex/In-service Thursday, June 10, 2027
The Bethlehem Area School District has 181 student days built into the 2026-2027 school calendar. Each day marked with an asterisk (*) may be used as a make-up day. Scheduled holidays will be converted to regular days of instruction according to the following order: (1) Monday, February 15; (2) Thursday, March 25; (3) Monday, March 29; and (4) Tuesday, June 8. The sequence of scheduled make-up days, report card dates, and parent/teacher conferences is subject to change based on the best interests of the school district.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 