Emotions were high and security was tight at St.Leo’s Church in Bonita Springs Wednesday afternoon when the Town of Fort Myers Beach met with members of the Lee County School District.
The reason for the meeting was to try to get closer to determining the future of the beach school, which remains closed after Hurricane Milton in 2024. The meeting was mediated by local attorney Derek Rooney.
After an hour of opening statements, explanations, and a round of questions between both sides, it was clear from the school district that they believe they are on solid legal ground not reopening the school and that hurricanes Helene and Milton changed everything after the district spent millions after hurricane Ian to reopen the school. In fact the school district attorney said, “We have complied with the Inter-Local Agreement, we are not in breach, conditions changed after Helene and Milton.”
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said, “I’m deeply concerned about broken promises. We entered into the ILA in good faith and benchmarks that were set were achieved.” The town also believes the district has FEMA money specified to rebuild the beach school. The district disputes that.
Following the hour-long discussion between the two sides, beach parents (some with their kids in tow), residents and business owners took to the microphone for public comment. They all spoke about the importance of keeping the 80-year old school on their island. The theme was if you take away their school, Fort Myers Beach is no longer a community.
After public comment, the mediator broke the two groups into smaller discussion groups before getting them back to the table where Mayor Allers dropped a proposal in the school district’s lap.
Allers asked The Lee County School District to lease the Historical Beach School Building on Fort Myers Beach to the town for 100 years at $1 per year. The town also 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.
Both sides hope to get back together after the holidays to see if they can move the idea further down the field. If some sort of resolution can not be reached, and litigation is initiated by the town, that could tack on another 3 years before any solution is anywhere close to being reached.