Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall with the direction the Lee County School Board is heading with the closing of the Beach School, Fort Myers Beach Chamber President Jacki Liszak sent out a recently passed resolution from the Chamber Board in favor of keeping the school open.
The resolution urges the School Board and Superintendent Denise Carlin to support the school and uphold the 4-year inter-local agreement between the Town of Fort Myers Beach and the district to rebuild the school that was signed one year ago.
Here’s the full resolution
WHEREAS, the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce is an organization that represents
businesses, residents and guests of Fort Myers Beach, Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce is committed to advocating at the
local, state, and federal levels to improve Ft. Myers Beach’s quality of life and be a catalyst for positive change impacting business, residents, the environment, and tourism; and
WHEREAS, the Lee County School District serves the children of Estero Island, surrounding communities in the 33931–zip code and Ft. Myers Beach businesses and
WHEREAS, the Lee County School District is financially sound, fiscally prepared for the future and has metrics in place to continue to serve, educate and protect the children of our island community and
WHEREAS, the Ft. Myers Beach community is one of the largest contributors to the Lee County School District’s Tax base and
WHEREAS, the Ft. Myes Beach community continues to recover and rebuild from Hurricane(s) Ian, Helene and Milton and
WHEREAS, there is a legally binding ILA in place between the Lee County School District and the Town of Ft. Myers Beach that outlines the enrollment and rebuilding plan for the Beach School and
WHEREAS, the Beach School and the FMB community have upheld their end of the ILA,
increasing enrollment while decreasing the cost per student (metrics set forth by the Lee
County School District) and
WHEREAS, a “surprise” consultant report was initiated and completed (without community
input or knowledge) that outlines the reasons for a proposed involuntary closure of the Beach School and recommends its closure and
WHEREAS, the results of the report and proposed closure have been based on data that is
flawed, erroneous, and questionable and
businesses, residents and guests of Fort Myers Beach, Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce is committed to advocating at the
local, state, and federal levels to improve Ft. Myers Beach’s quality of life and be a catalyst for positive change impacting business, residents, the environment, and tourism; and
WHEREAS, the Lee County School District serves the children of Estero Island, surrounding communities in the 33931–zip code and Ft. Myers Beach businesses and
WHEREAS, the Lee County School District is financially sound, fiscally prepared for the future and has metrics in place to continue to serve, educate and protect the children of our island community and
WHEREAS, the Ft. Myers Beach community is one of the largest contributors to the Lee County School District’s Tax base and
WHEREAS, the Ft. Myes Beach community continues to recover and rebuild from Hurricane(s) Ian, Helene and Milton and
WHEREAS, there is a legally binding ILA in place between the Lee County School District and the Town of Ft. Myers Beach that outlines the enrollment and rebuilding plan for the Beach School and
WHEREAS, the Beach School and the FMB community have upheld their end of the ILA,
increasing enrollment while decreasing the cost per student (metrics set forth by the Lee
County School District) and
WHEREAS, a “surprise” consultant report was initiated and completed (without community
input or knowledge) that outlines the reasons for a proposed involuntary closure of the Beach School and recommends its closure and
WHEREAS, the results of the report and proposed closure have been based on data that is
flawed, erroneous, and questionable and
WHEREAS, the parties affected by the proposed closure (students, parents, employers, town residents, town employees etc.) were led to believe that the closure of the beach school was NOT on the table and
WHEREAS, the closure of the Beach School would place an extreme hardship on island
students, families, employers and staff and
WHEREAS, for Resolution NO. 25–01, the definition of Involuntary closure refers to the forced or mandated shutting down of an institution, organization, or facility, without the consent or initiation of those directly operating or affected by it and
WHEREAS, the Town of Fort Myers Beach Town Council has voted unanimously to OPPOSE
such involuntary closure,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce does
NOT support the closure of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School (Beach School). We believe this egregious action will cause irreparable harm to the students, residents, and broader community of Fort Myers Beach. The closure of the Beach School will result in longer travel times for very young students, increased costs for families and businesses, and diminished appeal for families living on the island. It would also lead to reduced classroom time, potentially lower test scores, compromised learning outcomes, and increased hardships related to before–and after–school care and activities. The absence of a local school will severely hinder our community’s ability to attract new families to live on the island and will make it significantly more difficult for local businesses to recruit and retain top talent. Most significantly, it would deal a crushing blow to the spirit and heart of our island community.
Therefore, we unequivocally OPPOSE the closure of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School and call upon the Lee County School District Superintendent and School Board to honor the existing Interlocal Agreement (ILA), fund the necessary repairs to the Beach School building, and allow the school to reopen and rebuild its enrollment, as previously agreed.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of
Commerce on this 1st day of June 2025.
WHEREAS, the closure of the Beach School would place an extreme hardship on island
students, families, employers and staff and
WHEREAS, for Resolution NO. 25–01, the definition of Involuntary closure refers to the forced or mandated shutting down of an institution, organization, or facility, without the consent or initiation of those directly operating or affected by it and
WHEREAS, the Town of Fort Myers Beach Town Council has voted unanimously to OPPOSE
such involuntary closure,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce does
NOT support the closure of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School (Beach School). We believe this egregious action will cause irreparable harm to the students, residents, and broader community of Fort Myers Beach. The closure of the Beach School will result in longer travel times for very young students, increased costs for families and businesses, and diminished appeal for families living on the island. It would also lead to reduced classroom time, potentially lower test scores, compromised learning outcomes, and increased hardships related to before–and after–school care and activities. The absence of a local school will severely hinder our community’s ability to attract new families to live on the island and will make it significantly more difficult for local businesses to recruit and retain top talent. Most significantly, it would deal a crushing blow to the spirit and heart of our island community.
Therefore, we unequivocally OPPOSE the closure of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School and call upon the Lee County School District Superintendent and School Board to honor the existing Interlocal Agreement (ILA), fund the necessary repairs to the Beach School building, and allow the school to reopen and rebuild its enrollment, as previously agreed.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of
Commerce on this 1st day of June 2025.