Volunteers Bolster Program for At-Risk Students

Volunteers tutor students at Easton Area Middle School despite funding cuts

ACLU Responds to District's Appeal in "I Heart Boobies" Case

63-page motion filed

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a 63-page motion in federal appellate court in response to an appeal by the Easton Area School District that temporarily allowed students to wear breast cancer awareness bracelets, according to a report published in the Express-Times. The ACLU is representing two Easton Area Middle School students who were suspended during the 2010-11 school year for wearing "I Heart Boobies" bracelets. The motion was filed on Aug. 27.

• Photos (1)

Easton Fires Teacher Accused in Molestation Case

Stephen Sullivan faces trial on charges of molesting 7-year-old girl, possession of child porn.

The Easton Area School Board voted Thursday to fire a teacher accused of molesting a young girl. Stephen Sullivan, 52, of Bath, had been suspended since soon after his arrest in February on charges of inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl in his apartment. The girl was not an Easton student. Sullivan had taught social studies at the Easton Area Middle School, but the district had moved to have his teaching certification revoked. Once that became official, the district had said his termination would only be a matter of time. According to board documents, Sullivan will be replaced by Thomas Mertz, a teacher who had been previously let go by the district. The Express-Times says he was one of the teachers laid off in 2010. Sullivan is …

• Photos (1)

Easton Middle School Hosts Tour

With a little more than a week until the start of school, students got to take a walkthrough Thursday.

With the days of summer winding down, Easton Area Middle School Grades 5/6 opened its door Aug. 18 for students and their families for an informal walkthrough. Guidance staff and principals were on hand to offer tours of the facility and distributed schedules and locker assignments to some of the 666 students expected to enter sixth grade and 687 students enrolled in fifth grade. Students practiced unlocking their lockers and locating their homerooms while exchanging hugs and high fives as they reconnected with friends and classmates. Summer will come to an end Monday, Aug. 29 when students report for their first day of school.

• Photos (10)

Five Things to Know This Week

Possible Board of Education appointment and Palmer Community Days top the list

It's Monday, Palmer and Forks townships. Here's a list of several things -- we extended it from "five things" -- to look for this week:

• Photos (1)

Easton Area Middle School Teacher's Certificate Suspended

Stephen Sullivan is accused of molesting a 7-year-old

The Easton Area Middle School teacher accused of child molestation has had his teaching certification suspended, according to a report in the Express-Times. Stephen Sullivan still faces charges that he molested a 7-year-old girl and was in possession of child pornography in his Bath home. He has been on leave without pay from the district since February, but with the state suspension, he will be terminated, according to published reports. Last month, Sullivan was scheduled to face charges on child pornography but the hearing was continued. In February, Colonial Regional Police charged him with sexual abuse of children, possession of child pornography, indecent assault, criminal solicitation to commit indecent assault, unlawful conduct with…

• Photos (1)