HANOVER TWP., NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, Pa. — During construction of the all-new Fountain Hill Elementary School, its 500 students will have their classes at the former home of Lehigh Valley Academy.
The Bethlehem Area School Board unanimously approved a lease agreement to use 60,090 square feet at 1640 and 1650 Valley Center Parkway, off Schoenersville Road, in Hanover Township, Northampton County.
The lease will run from June 1, 2025, to Aug. 31, 2027.
The two buildings were once used for Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School until the school moved to its new location to start this school year.
The new charter school location is just up Schoenersville Road at 2040 Avenue C.
“After the planned demolition and construction begins over the summer of 2025, a new home for the students and staff will be required for the duration of construction, which is scheduled to last two school years."Bethlehem Area School District Board of Directors
“After the planned demolition and construction begins over the summer of 2025, a new home for the students and staff will be required for the duration of construction, which is scheduled to last two school years,” according to the district’s Monday agenda.
Fountain Hill students will be eligible for daily transportation to the temporary facility as the new school is under construction at 1330 Church St.
The temporary location is about six miles away from Fountain Hill and a roughly 15-minute ride. It will be used during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. Opening of the new Fountain Hill Elementary is set for August 2027.
Construction updates
The school board also signed off on Earth Engineering Inc., of Emmaus, to handle geotechnical investigation and construction testing measures on the Fountain Hill Elementary site.
That work is estimated to cost $159,464 but won’t exceed $200,000 if additional testing is required, according to Kim LaBrake of D’Huy Engineering.
Those measures could include field investigations, soil boring reports, rock drilling, infiltration testing and laboratory analysis.
The new school is estimated to cost around $60 million.
Officials are eyeing a three-tier, 85,780-square-foot design featuring “learning pods” with four core classrooms per grade level, ESL spaces, reading areas and more.
A family center next door will have a food pantry, clothing closets and meeting rooms for outside partners.
