New Building 21 focus is just one part of Allentown School District’s investment in AI. Here’s what the future holds
The renaming of Building 21 to Bridgeview Academy signals a shift towards artificial intelligence, healthcare, and computer science. This change reflects the Allentown School District's commitment to investing in AI, as seen through the implementation of a new AI policy, staff training programs, and student summer courses at DeSales University. The focus on these fields is aimed at preparing students for future technological advancements and career opportunities. The district's strategic move highlights the importance of integrating cutting-edge technologies into education.
Allentown School District's Investment in the Future
Renaming Building 21 as Bridgeview Academy and shifting its focus to artificial intelligence, health care, and computer science is one step in the Allentown School District’s investment in the future. A new AI policy, staff professional development, and student summer courses at DeSales University are among the district’s first moves toward implementing a vision Superintendent Carol Birks honed during a year-long Google GSV Education Innovation Fellowship, a nationwide education technology initiative. Birks is a cheerleader for AI in education, seeing its implementation as a way to prepare Allentown students for high-demand careers and to keep the district on the leading edge of technological change.
Plans for Bridgeview Academy
Bridgeview Academy’s emphasis on computer and medical sciences is designed to take advantage of local employment opportunities in fields like advanced manufacturing and health care. The district is talking to hospitals, nonprofits, and other local employers to develop internships to supplement the high school’s classes. Course topics at Bridgeview Academy will range from broad subjects like data science and AI ethics to specialized fields such as autonomous systems, natural language processing, and blockchain and cybersecurity.
The district aims to build partnerships with surrounding universities for students to take more advanced courses, with DeSales University and Penn State-Lehigh Valley already on board, Birks said in a recent interview. On the health care side, the hope is to build on students’ strengths by developing pathways such as a medical translator credential program, Birks added.
Curriculum Development and Physical Improvements
It’s early days for the new Bridgewater Academy curriculum. An incoming class of 150 students, drawn from districtwide applications, will start on the new courses this fall while already admitted students will take a mix of old and new courses as they work toward graduation. Integrating AI into curriculum districtwide will mean ramping up training for staff, Birks said.
As the district works out the kinks of effectively employing AI, it’s also committed to long-term physical improvements to Bridgeview Academy. Construction plans to expand the high school will take years to complete, with a firm timeline set for only the first of three phases. For Phase 1, new classrooms are in the works for next summer, and a Family & Community Resource Center that will offer health and social services is scheduled to be completed in December 2026, Birks said.
Allentown Summer AI Institute
The district is also building out the Allentown Summer AI Institute, an eight-week DeSales program on leveraging AI tools for data analysis, now in its second year. The program enrolls 20 students, who earn a stipend — up to $5,600 — and college credit. The institute models how to use data analysis to address community needs.
Last year, students examined air quality data from sensors placed in Allentown School District buildings. This summer they’ll be looking for the root causes behind eviction rates in the Franklin Park neighborhood. The Franklin Park project started last summer with an effort to map businesses and analyze the quality of sidewalks. DeSales business professor Brennan Pursell said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk remarked in a classroom visit that “most cities in the United States are governed by vibe” and that the students’ data would help inform the city’s Office of Civic Innovation.
Students' Perspectives on AI
Students attending the AI Institute expressed both optimism about opportunities for district students and concerns about the technology’s impact on learning. Some see AI as a powerful study aid while others worry about its potential negative effects on education and language learning.
AI could prove a useful study aid for students preparing for various careers, while it also presents challenges such as the temptation to use AI tools to avoid practicing language skills, ultimately hindering the development of English learners. The district remains focused on leveraging AI to enhance learning outcomes while addressing these challenges.