HAZLETON, Pa. — A former office building in the Can Do Industrial Complex in Butler Township has turned into a creative space for students in the Hazleton Area School District.
"Within these walls, imagination will run wild, talent will be honed, and dreams will be cultivated," said Superintendent Dr. Brian Uplinger.
The Hazleton Arts and Humanities Academy opened its doors to students this fall. Classes include dance, music, and art. Along with core learning subjects like math and history.
All students here have to apply to get into the academy.
"It gets students who are interested in the arts to want to come to school. They are engaged, they are focused, they are enjoying the experience, and the setting itself is an enjoyable experience. The environment means a lot," said Academy assistant principal James Hearne.
Right now, there are 200 students enrolled. For seniors like Brayden Dudinyak, music has been a passion since elementary school.
"I enjoy coming here every single day because I have a secluded environment where I am able to learn new things, and I am able to take my own time and choose what I want to do with it to deepen my own education, and I can also pick the brains of those who are very well crafted," said Brayden Dudinyak.
Administrators and former teachers say with so many districts cutting back programming for music and arts. The Hazleton Area School District always had a vision to expand.
"This school started as a school within the high school 10 years ago," said Hearne.
"What school boards were saying back then was it is only the arts that are not important, and you do not need that to survive. And I said, well, you don't need it to survive. It makes survival worthwhile," said retired art teacher Charles Burkhardt.
District officials say the academy has enough space to teach up to 400 students.