The Beginning
LVPA is based on the vision of founder Dr. Thomas S. Lubben and a group of dedicated individuals from the Lehigh Valley, who recognized the need for a school to serve the unique needs of creative young people. A Board of Directors was formed in 1996 representing business, educational and artistic leaders. After developing a curriculum and submitting the charter application to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, LVPA received charter approval shortly after the Pennsylvania Senate passed Bill No. 123 on June 12, 1997 allowing for the establishment of charter schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Seven-year Search
Identifying a space for LVPA presented the school’s first challenge, along with securing investors and school board approval for our charter to operate. By 2003, the Bangor, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Northampton school boards approved LVPA’s charter and LVPA entered into a lease agreement with the owners of our current retrofitted industrial site, the former Laros building, on East Broad Street in Bethlehem, Pa.
First Days of School
LVPA’s doors opened in September 2003 with 270 students, many of whom had auditioned in living rooms, churches, and other ad hoc locations across the community. In the first year, students were able to choose one of five majors within the LVPA artistic departments: dance, figure skating, instrumental music, theatre, and vocal music. The directors of these departments remain at LVPA today. LVPA introduced the visual art major in its second school season.
On August 29th, 2011, LVPA welcomed 460 students on the first day of school with a red rose. This tradition began in 2003 and continues today.
Space
Our biggest challenge in the beginning has become our most significant challenge today. In 1997, we began a seven-year search for a space to open. In 2011, we have simply run out of space for LVPA’s 460 students from 45 different school districts within 12 surrounding counties. As LVPA has evolved, so have our needs for the school’s facility. We have literally filled every square inch of our current space with academic classrooms, artistic classrooms, practice space, and faculty offices. Students paint in the Fowler Gallery, use LVPA’s Black Box Theater as a classroom, and serenade staff and students by practicing in our halls! Our Black Box Theater seats only 154 patrons and thus sells out for many of our music, dance, and theater performances. Only two of our classrooms have natural light. We require thousands of square feet of additional space to meet our growing curriculum.
Window into LVPA’s Future
A school designed by our students would look far different than our current space. It would be flooded with natural light, include places for practice and collaboration, allow for additional academic classrooms, be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and include a cafeteria.
A 350-seat, professional theater would provide a platform for all of our young artists to present their work to the community. These are all LVPA goals moving forward, but the process requires a great deal of support from the community at large. Find out how you can help.