ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A local private elementary school has moved into the former Da Vinci Science Center building on the campus of Cedar Crest College.
Salvaggio Academy has entered into a multi-year lease to rent the 29,000-square-foot building at 3145 Hamilton Blvd., which is still owned by the museum, according to a news release and spokesperson for the school.
The Da Vinci Science Center moved to a new, larger space at 815 Hamilton St. earlier this summer.
“Our new home on a college campus is a dream come true, providing an inspiring backdrop for our children to learn, play and grow,” said Jessica Devlin, director of education at Salvaggio Academy, in a statement.
Salvaggio Academy’s new building will help accommodate the school’s growing enrollment. There are currently about 70 students enrolled with a 7 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio. The school has a 90-student capacity.
The building has a newly built Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) lab, gymnasium, outdoor play area, music room and science lab.
Salvaggio Academy, formerly CAI Learning Academy, previously operated out of 1033 Washington St. in Allentown.
The school first opened in 2014. It was founded by Tony Salvaggio, founder and CEO emeritus of the global services firm CAI, to provide accessible education to underserved families.
CAI's corporate social responsibility pillars are: accessible education, helping families thrive, food accessibility, neurodiversity and sustainability.
Salvaggio Academy serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade from low-income families. Scholarships are available, so students attend for free. Salvaggio Academy does not have a special education program.
The school is primarily funded by Salvaggio and CAI.
The move to the new building corresponded with the unveiling of the school’s new name, which honors the Salvaggio family and their commitment to education, according to the news release.
“Welcoming students to their new school motivates both them and our dedicated faculty and staff whose mission is to serve academic excellence,” Devlin said in her statement. “We are grateful for CAI, the Salvaggio family, and all our partners who have supported us on this journey.”
The first day of school for students is Monday, Sept. 9.
