Lehighton elementary students will move to new center in Sept.

The final school bell of the year is usually a joyous time for students as summer vacation officially gets underway, but Monday had a unique feel around the Lehighton Area School District elementary buildings.

Students walked out of Shull-David, Franklin, Mahoning and East Penn elementary schools for the final time as the district prepares to open the K-5 Lehighton Area Elementary Center on Sept. 4.

As parents waited for the 1 p.m. dismissal outside Shull-David, many reflected on their emotions.

“I’m really unsure how I feel right now,” said Tiffany Herman. “I love Shull-David. I think the kids will miss the smaller schools and the smaller classrooms. The principal here is amazing and the staff has always been professional and welcoming.”

The staff at each of the elementary schools will be transitioning over to the $33 million elementary center. Two wings will encompass the new building, one side housing the K-2 classrooms and another for grades 3-5. Shared spaces such as the library, cafeteria and gymnasium will be centrally located.

“It was a very bittersweet day,” Shull-David and Mahoning Principal Aaron Sebelin said after school Monday. “You could see the kids were excited, but also sad. This isn’t just the end of the school, it marks the last day in these four buildings.”

On the way out of the buildings, staff and administration high-fived the students and many hugs were shared.

“We talked to them today about the excitement of meeting their new teachers,” Sebelin said. “We also told them to have a safe summer and we’d meet again at the new school in the fall.”

Parent of a Shull-David fourth-grade student, Danielle Nalesnik had not walked her child to school all year. Monday was a different story.

“I had to walk him over one last time,” Nalesnik said. “It’s very bittersweet to think nobody will be coming to school here anymore. But it’s also exciting to think they’ll be the last class to have attended this school and the first to attend the elementary center.”

The future of two of the four elementary schools has been decided. The district sold Mahoning for $350,000 last year at public auction to Behavioral Health Associates. In addition East Penn Elementary was also sold last year for $350,000. Duane and Lavona Schleicher plan to open a senior living center at the site.

In April, the board authorized district administration to solicit proposals for the sale of Shull-David and Franklin elementary schools.