Allentown moves Harrison Morton sixth-graders to two middle schools after mechanical failure; students to return March 24
March 22, 2025 | Allentown City SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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Allentown School District officials said they moved sixth-grade students out of the building serving Harrison Morton after “mechanical failures” and placed the cohort at two nearby middle schools while facilities staff complete cleaning and air-quality testing.
The district split the sixth-grade cohort between South Mountain Middle School and Trexler Middle School, which each provided six classrooms. Superintendent (unnamed in the transcript) and Dr. Wharton said the district will move about 120 students and roughly 30 faculty and staff, and that the split keeps classroom cohorts together. Dr. Wharton said, “we had to remove this we have to have the sixth grade students leave safe places, due to some, mechanical failures.”
Why it matters: the district said the move was urgent and temporary. Officials arranged transportation changes with STA and LANTA, adding one additional school bus so two buses go to South Mountain and two to Trexler. The district scheduled a virtual instructional day for Harrison Morton sixth-graders the day after the announcement so teachers and staff could prepare classrooms and move materials. The district gave the return date as Monday, March 24.
Supporting details: facilities staff described immediate cleaning and sanitizing of Harrison Morton classrooms; the district said it will run air-quality tests and purchase air-purification units for classrooms and offices before reoccupying the building. Parent information sessions were scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at South Mountain Middle School and 6:30 p.m. at Trexler Middle School so families could see receiving schools and ask questions.
Officials stressed this affects only Harrison Morton sixth-graders: the superintendent said, “Only the sixth grade students are virtual who attend Harrison Morton only.” Seventh- and eighth-grade students in that learning community were told to attend their usual receiving schools in person.
Next steps and context: the district will finish the air-quality work, install HEPA/air-purification units, and monitor results before returning all students and staff. Transportation adjustments remain in effect while cohorts are housed at the two middle schools.
The district split the sixth-grade cohort between South Mountain Middle School and Trexler Middle School, which each provided six classrooms. Superintendent (unnamed in the transcript) and Dr. Wharton said the district will move about 120 students and roughly 30 faculty and staff, and that the split keeps classroom cohorts together. Dr. Wharton said, “we had to remove this we have to have the sixth grade students leave safe places, due to some, mechanical failures.”
Why it matters: the district said the move was urgent and temporary. Officials arranged transportation changes with STA and LANTA, adding one additional school bus so two buses go to South Mountain and two to Trexler. The district scheduled a virtual instructional day for Harrison Morton sixth-graders the day after the announcement so teachers and staff could prepare classrooms and move materials. The district gave the return date as Monday, March 24.
Supporting details: facilities staff described immediate cleaning and sanitizing of Harrison Morton classrooms; the district said it will run air-quality tests and purchase air-purification units for classrooms and offices before reoccupying the building. Parent information sessions were scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at South Mountain Middle School and 6:30 p.m. at Trexler Middle School so families could see receiving schools and ask questions.
Officials stressed this affects only Harrison Morton sixth-graders: the superintendent said, “Only the sixth grade students are virtual who attend Harrison Morton only.” Seventh- and eighth-grade students in that learning community were told to attend their usual receiving schools in person.
Next steps and context: the district will finish the air-quality work, install HEPA/air-purification units, and monitor results before returning all students and staff. Transportation adjustments remain in effect while cohorts are housed at the two middle schools.
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