GULF SHORES, Ala. — Faculty and staff members at Gulf Shores High School, along with Baldwin County School Superintendent Dr. Faron L. Hollinger and members of the school board met Monday afternoon to officially open the new science and computer wing on the campus of the school.

“It has been a great month and a half here at Gulf Shores, having had the opportunity to move into our new wing,” said Gulf Shores Principal Dr. Ernie Rosado. “A building doesn’t do anything, it’s the people in it. But it is so nice to have this new facility.

“When I got here, they had just started with some of the planning meetings, then they started in January, and by the end of spring, they were saying we might even be in by July.”

Because of a delay with the special ordered doors that were to be used in the new facility, the official move in was moved back until September.  

The building is now up and running and Dr. Rosado said it is due to hard work from a lot of different people.

“I tell the students all the time that in order to receive you have to give, and a lot of folks have given up their time to get us to this point here today,” Dr. Rosado said.

Rosado said that even with staff cuts that were recently made, and with limited resources that the school has been forced to work under, they will take care of their new building and will use it to the fullest potential.

“This is a fine day in the life of this community. This is a fine facility and we are confident that it is going to be put to very good use,” Dr. Hollinger said. “We appreciate the architects, the contractors, and every individual who had a part in this project.”

District 5 School Board member Angie Swiger called the day a joyous celebration for the community.

“This isn’t just the opening of a new building, it is the opening of a new era,” Swiger said. “Because of the diligence, hard work and cooperation by the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, our Baldwin County School Board, our construction company and our principal, Dr. Rosado, we are able to celebrate the opening of this new building.”

Swiger said the event celebrates the opening of a new engineering program for the school, the success of the band program and chorus programs, and it represents the pride the members, representatives and supporters feel about their school.