There’s a new school in Lehighton that nobody seems to have a problem with.

Seventh-grade life science teacher Joseph Yescavage’s class has a school of around 40 brook trout in an aquarium just outside of their classroom. The aquarium and all of the related hardware was donated by the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club.

The class started off with 350 eggs given to them by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as part of the commission’s “Trout in the Classroom” project. When the brook trout, the only trout species native to Pennsylvania, are ready, they will be released into a local stream approved by the commission.

Fran Gough, a retired science teacher from Crestwood School District in Mountain Top and member of the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club, has participated in similar programs at other schools.

Gough was brought in to make some tweaks to the system to get it running at the optimal level. With trout being a cold-water fish, the tank must keep a temperature around 55 degrees.

The aquarium must also have proper aeration and circulation to ensure that the fish have enough oxygen.

Students in the class are responsible for the upkeep of the tank with each having certain tasks. Ian Rarick and Brynn Barachie do the testing of the water and track and chart the results.

Mae Marks, Ashlyn Popovich and Payton Costenbader are in charge of keeping the tank clean.