Superintendent to Town: No Money For School

Less than 2 weeks after Mayor Dan Allers proposed the Lee County School District turn the Historical Beach School building over to the town and provide the town with $12 million toward building a new school, the Superintendent told the town no money was available.

Town Manager Will Mckannay told the Town Council Monday that the response was sent by Superintendent Denise Carlin by e-mail on Friday, November 14th. The Town Council believes the School District received $12 million in FEMA money that was intended to use to repair the school.

Carlin wrote that with respect to the Town’s request for a $12 million contribution from the district, “We must reiterate that the District cannot provide this funding. As noted in our discussions on November 5th, the funds indicated in the FEMA August 2025 obligation letter related to Hurricane lan will primarily be credited to the LAP loan; any other funds will be reviewed per Section 428 of the Stafford Act for ongoing lan-related repairs. In addition, although we do not anticipate additional funding, the District’s Hurricane Milton FEMA application for Fort Myers Beach Elementary remains under review.”

During their November 5th joint mediation meeting Allers asked the district to lease the Historical Beach School Building and requested $12 Million to help the community fund a possible Charter School on the property. If ever built, that new building would replace the historical building which could then be used as some sort of community center.

In her e-mail to the town, Carlin stated that the School District would be willing to turn over the property that includes the Beach School, but not all of the property. “The District is prepared to explore conveying the historic school building to the town outright, rather than through a long-term lease. This would involve subdividing the current parcel and transferring ownership of the historic structure “as is,”while the District retains the remainder of the property.”

Mayor Allers said Monday, “The district may have ulterior motives for that land. Parceling off land doesn’t make any sense.”

Carlin said the district would also be willing to assist the town in converting the school to a charter school. How a Charter School would be funded to operate has never really been discussed yet. Some funding would come from the district. Additional funds might be available from the state. And the town would also need to provide some funding.

Council member Jim Atterholt said, “I was honestly stunned by this response. This is very unacceptable and it does not appear the administration is dealing in good faith. To offer no financial commitment is disappointing and stunning.” Allers added, “To come back with no financial offer is insulting. We wasted four hours (in mediation) of our time.”

This is the actual communication the Lee County School Duistrict received regarding the $12 million it received from the feds:

“This award provides $11,344,424.03 in federal funding to Lee County School District for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4673-FL (Hurricane Ian). This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. During the incident period, Hurricane Ian generated storm surge and wind driven rain, causing extensive damage to 12 buildings of the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School. A 50 % Rule analysis was performed for the six (6) main buildings with a result ratio above 50%, making them eligible for replacement. In response, the applicant will utilize contracts to replace the 6 main buildings, and repair the 6 ancillary buildings to restore this facility to its pre-disaster design, function and capacity within the existing footprint per applicable codes and standards. Work to be completed for the replacement buildings will include removing and furnishing existing foundation, exterior walls, beam roof structure, windows, doors, interior partitions, interior finishes, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, fire alarm, sprinkler, and communications systems, stairs and elevators. Work to be completed for the buildings to be repaired will include the removal and replacement of all damaged components. This project entails a fixed cost offer. A cost estimating format (CEF) has been created using RS means software. Potential mitigation was discussed but the applicant will not pursue mitigation opportunities for this project. An insurance reduction was applied to this project. No prior Obtain and Maintain (O&M) requirement was found. An O&M requirement will be mandated in the total amount of $19,255,986.38 for the buildings. Total project cost is $19,546,275.07 (CEF) less $6,941,359.49 (Insurance Reduction) = $12,604,915.58 funded at a 90% federal cost share = $11,344,424.03, as required under the Federal Register Notice #15.”