Aug. 10, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
The Bethlehem Area School Board voted tonight to remove a student who did not live in the school district.
When the district suspects a student is not a resident, that student’s family is given due process, including a hearing. The Bethlehem Area School District held a hearing June 15, according to the meeting agenda.
“The Hearing Officer ruled that the family has not sufficiently proven residency within the District and recommended removing the student,” and the school board voted to support that. There was no discussion on that vote, which was combined with others.
Monday’s meeting was the first as superintendent for Dr. Renato M. Lejara.
The board also voted against supporting the Community Charter School of the Arts.
Board member Silagh White said she supports arts education but added that the BASD can’t fund a new school. Charter schools are privately run but funded by public school districts.
“The resources to support it aren’t there,” White said. She noted that new schools pull funding from existing schools, while the fixed costs (such as insurance, heating, debt service and maintenance) of the older schools do not decline.
Also Monday, the board was told the new Fountain Hill Elementary School will be open in one year, in time for the 2027-28 school year.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 