BUTLER TWP — An outdoor area at McQuistion Elementary School will be changed into a “STEM Courtyard” this summer.

The project, estimated to cost $30,000, is being paid for through donations from Allegheny Land Trust and the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, Superintendent Brian White said at Monday night's school board meeting.

The school, located on Mechling Drive in Butler Township, is attended by students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

The enclosed courtyard will be used as an outdoor classroom. Preliminary designs shared by the school board show installation of a weather station, stepping stones, a stone dust surface, outdoor magnetic pegboard, birdhouse, concrete seats and several shrubs, trees and perennials.

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

There will not be any structural changes to the building and the district will not have to spend any money, White said.

“The teachers really spent a lot of time working on designing it. It's going to be great for the kids,” he said.