Gulf Shores PTO present donation to sponsor outdoor kitchen

Past and present Gulf Shores Elementary PTO members present Dr. Matt Akin with a $25,000 donation to fund an outdoor kitchen for the elementary and middle school.
Past and present Gulf Shores Elementary PTO members present Dr. Matt Akin with a $25,000 donation to fund an outdoor kitchen for the elementary and middle school.
Gulf Shores City Schools
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After three years of fundraising and saving, the Gulf Shores Elementary PTO presented a donation to the Gulf Shores City School Board during the Feb. 11 regular board meeting. PTO treasurer Shelby Jurkiewicz made a presentation before the board.

Jurkiewicz explained that the PTO had decided three years ago that they wanted to fund a future project but did not have one in mind. Principal Dr. Racheal McDaniel suggested an outdoor kitchen for the elementary school that could be incorporated into the curriculum. Students could take cooking classes, exercise math and science skills.

During the school board meeting, past and present Gulf Shores Elementary PTO members presented the Board of Education a check for $25,000.

“I’m super excited about this project. We have been talking about it for a long time and I think it’s going to add to our campuses, add to our curriculum and it’s going to last for a long time,” said superintendent Matt Akin. 

Plans for the project are currently being worked on and a preliminary location has been selected. The building will be in line with school branding and colors and match the general aesthetics of the surrounding architecture. Plans call for the outdoor kitchen to be in an open-air covered pavilion located between the elementary and middle school and will allow for the space to be shared by both schools. It will feature grills and refrigerators and expansive counters to allow for hands on learning.