It will be a year of goodbyes in Lehighton Area School District as students walk the halls of four elementary schools for the final time.

One of those schools, Shull-David Elementary, will be in the spotlight Thursday during a farewell open house from 6-8 p.m.

Principal Aaron Sebelin said public, alumni teachers, students and parents are welcome to share memories of the school, which currently serves K-4 students.

Farewell T-shirts will be available to view and order at the event for $10. Money will be due when ordering a shirt.

Shull-David, Franklin, Mahoning and East Penn elementary schools are slated to be closed following the 2017-18 school year as Lehighton opens its new elementary center for all K-5 students in the district.

History

The school, located on a 3-acre tract of land along Beaver Run Road, currently houses just under 300 students.

It was dedicated on Oct. 22, 1959. According to newspaper reports at the time, the school cost $735,000.

Shull-David was named in honor of two men who were once the leaders of the school district. Brinton M. Shull served as superintendent from 1908-1928. Bert B. David served as superintendent from 1928-1948.

Shull came to Lehighton from the Duncannon in 1900. He was a teacher in the First Ward and Second Ward elementary schools. In 1907, Shull became the principal of the high school. One year later, in 1908, he became the superintendent of the Lehighton schools.

David came to Lehighton in 1914, as a teacher at Third Ward elementary school. In 1915, he became the principal of First Ward elementary school. In 1918, David enlisted in the Army to fight in World War I. When he returned home in December of 1918, he became a teacher in the high school. In 1920, he became the high school principal and in 1928, he was elected to be the superintendent of all Lehighton schools.

First staff

The first staff of Shull-David Elementary School in 1958-59 included:

Principal and sixth grade teacher: James Wentz

Kindergarten: Shirley Jones

First grade: Helen Kordilla

Second grade: Naomi Evans

Third grade: Marjorie Balliet

Third grade: Marion Edwards

Fourth grade: Arlene Farren

Fourth grade: Joan Ulshafer

Fifth grade: Esther Daugherty

Fifth grade: Orville Peifer

Sixth grade: Marion P. Reinbold

Special education: Florence Farren

Special education: Gayle Reichard

Music: Minnie Horn

Art: Niel Haring

Physical education: Frederick Bright

Nurse: Marion Krum