Education and community development have always been interdependent. The early pioneers’ awareness of this is attested to by the fact that the fourth building erected in the community was a one-story frame schoolhouse situated along the old Indian Trial on East Dewart Street. John Boyd and Ziba Bird opened the first free school in this building, and Abia John of Shamokin Township was the first schoolmaster, receiving the munificent sum of eighteen dollars for a three-month term of instruction, including janitorial duties.
During the summer of 1839, The Central School, a two-story brick structure, was erected at the present site of the Washington School building. The building was also utilized for many civic and social function of the time.
First Home of the Shamokin High School (Photo courtesy of Tom Kutza)
In 1852 enterprising residents of Lutheran faith sought to establish a university. After forming a corporation, stocks were sold and bonds were issued in the hopes of fulfilling their vision. A building was erected on the later site of the Shamokin High School on Arch Street. However, the project was not approved by the Susquehanna Synod. Dr. J. J. John, historian, stated that it was due to “the jealousy of other communities, particularly Selinsgrove”. Thus, the Academy stood unfinished for five years and was finally purchased by the Shamokin School District on March 14, 1864.
During the same year, Shamokin became a borough, and the following year adopted a separate school district. During the lengthy period of peace, prosperity, and increasing population following the Civil War, the Shamokin School District erected the following buildings to meet the needs of the community: the Washington Grade School – 1880, the Garfield Grade School 1888, the Lincoln Grade School –1890, the Shamokin Academy (or old High School) – 1894, and the Grant and Stevens Grade Schools in 1895. The Old Academy (previously intended Lutheran University) was razed in to make way for a new Shamokin High School, which was dedicated in 1915.
In 1958, Shamokin dedicated a new building, referred to as the Shamokin High School Annex, on a site bounded by Arch, Seventh, Lincoln, and Anthracite Streets. This modern two-story brick building housed the administrative offices of the district, the home economics department, the vocational shops, and the physical education department which features a gymnasium that seats sixteen hundred people. The old gymnasium in the high school on Arch Street was converted into a modern cafeteria.
The Shamokin School District Community was later expanded and currently includes the City of Shamokin and the Townships of Coal, East Cameron and Shamokin. It is located at the southern end of the anthracite coal region in Northumberland County in central Pennsylvania with a population of approximately 21,000. The district has very active sports programs and excellent music programs that gain community support and provides students avenues to post high school educational opportunities. Over the past two years, the community has given the district a very viable asset through the establishment of a career center, which includes a branch campus of Luzerne County Community College, which is located in the old High School on Arch Street, as well as an arts and cultural center. The district is also the co-recipient of a PEARL, GEAR-UP grant that targets junior high school students and their families with career exploration, tutorial help, and awareness of post high school educational opportunities.
The Shamokin Area School District is composed of three buildings: the junior-senior high school, the elementary school, and the elementary annex. The district also maintains an extensive outdoor athletic complex. The junior-senior high school, housing grades 7 through 12, was constructed in 1973-1975. The multi-floor building houses a 1280 seat auditorium, a 3000 seat gymnasium, and a regulation pool with spectator seating. This building was renovated in 1995-1996 to provide additional classroom space to accommodate grades 7 and 8. The building’s HVAC system was renovated in this project, and modifications were made to meet ADA regulations. The additions and renovation were needed due to the closure and subsequent sale of the district’s aging middle school building. The former middle school building was sold to a county agency at the conclusion of the renovation project in 1996. It is currently being used by the county as a career development and arts center.
The elementary school was constructed in 1980, and houses grades 1 through 6. It is also the home of several special needs classes administered by the local intermediate unit (IU16). The building’s HVAC system was renovated in 1990.
The elementary houses a large combination auditorium/gymnasium, a tiered-seating vocal music classroom, a band and orchestra suite, and a library.
The elementary annex building was constructed 1959 as a vocational education facility for the district. This building was recently renovated to meet ADA regulations and houses grades K4 (kindergarten for four-year-olds) and K5 kindergarten. The building also houses administrative offices and a large gymnasium to provide accommodations for additional athletic activities.
Kemp Memorial Stadium is a large football and track complex with a seating capacity of 6000, with lighting for night games. The outdoor athletic complex also features practice fields, a baseball field, and a soccer stadium. The athletic facilities of the district are utilized heavily not only by the home teams, but also by various league organizations for hosting playoff games and events. A well-equipped weight room and athletic training facilities are located in the junior-senior high.
Both the secondary and elementary schools have extensive libraries, and participate in the Access Pennsylvania system. A mini-library is available at the annex building with holdings from the elementary library that are age appropriate for students located in the building. Library automation and circulation software is used in both libraries, with networked computers and printers for use by students and faculty.
A large fiber based LAN, on the main campus of the district, serves the district administrative offices, the elementary school, and the junior-senior high school. A LAN is also present in the elementary annex building. Plans for a WAN connection to link the two district LANs are being developed. The district aggressively pursues federal and state grant monies to fund infrastructure expansion into all classrooms. A closed-circuit television distribution system is also provided for the elementary and secondary buildings, with access points in every classroom. All television programming originates from a sophisticated television studio in the junior-senior high school, and includes digital video production equipment.