Riverview elementary PTO pitches outdoor classroom

The Parent Teacher Organization of a Riverview elementary school is leading the charge for its students to learn in a unique environment.

Molly Walsh, president of the Tenth Street PTO, led a presentation to school board members about creating an outdoor classroom. She was joined by Deana Lewis, secretary of the PTO and Danielle Delsandro, treasurer for the organization.

“We were very interested in doing something with some extra funds we had in our PTO account,” Walsh said. “We wanted to use those funds for the students who are currently active at the school.”

Walsh said she’s a part of a national PTO group and looked at what projects other schools were able to complete with extra funding.

After presenting about 10 ideas, the PTO decided to pursue an outdoor classroom design. Walsh said a survey was sent to the elementary school staff to gauge teacher interest and to see if the space would be used.

“We had 13 teachers respond and they all said they would use the classroom for different things like full group instruction, small group work, read alouds, art projects, science experiments, things like that outside,” Walsh said.

The space would be near the school’s first grade entrance, near Ninth Street, Walsh said. The area is covered and shaded during most of the year by trees.

Current plans include seats fashioned in the style of logs and tree stumps, and tables for the students. A whiteboard, supplies for students to write on and “fun visuals” are included in the plan.

“We’re going to have some permanent seating, we hope,” Walsh said.

The area would only be for school use. The public would not be able to access the area.

Superintendent Neil English said the school has a similar outdoor space where students are able to eat lunch on the opposite side of the planned classroom site. Those outdoor tables are also closed off to the public, he said.

Walsh said the PTO is hoping to make the classroom a warm and inviting environment for the kids. Benefits of the outdoor space include learning engagement, hands-on learning opportunities and stress reduction, she said.

It’s also an opportunity for students to get outside.

Members of the PTO have been in contact with contractors to gauge costs and the best design plans. Walsh said the organization is able to fund the project, but to pay for any “bells and whistles,” such as a brick path leading up to the classroom, the group is considering holding fundraisers.

According to minutes from the PTO’s May meeting, the group is willing to fund up to $30,000 for the project. The PTO is discussing creating a line in their annual budget to maintain the space so the costs do not fall on the district, Walsh said.

Ideally, the project would be finished this spring, Walsh said.

“We’re hoping to make decisions this fall,” Walsh said. “We’ve talked to contractors. We’re not sure who we’re going to go with, but they’ve given us some time frames. … It looks like it’s not that lengthy of a process to install.”

English said board members would continue to discuss the project during the board’s voting meeting on Sept. 15. It’s unknown when the board might vote on whether to approve the project.