[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6143076,"mediaKeyId","5536119-0ebcab6630a37d2082fa33b550d2eafe","parentId",5536119,"title","School board approves employment contract with board attorney; vote 4-3 after severance and termination changes","audioSeconds",1866,"startMs",2655000,"endMs",4521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5536119-0ebcab6630a37d2082fa33b550d2eafe&start=2655&end=4521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5536119-0ebcab6630a37d2082fa33b550d2eafe/thumbnail_2655000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6143076/Lee/School-Districts/Florida/School-board-approves-employment-contract-with-board-attorney-vote-4-3-after-severance-and-termination-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6143076-c92dff386caa2a6ab397d8072dfc04f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171494&Signature=TTEYaIDi-bKW4x5iNaZghyBkA0qWj9ve1ytm4gq3ObG4mexuQG1uyBGh2kVLeG8GV~S9YZIIM6fxknkoEoBGzTVSRFdD5N1lkCIml4SScVWToT8ktz6ZkNRxubJ7e43RAFWVEiVvYc6H9beD6h50TrC-yRwMO6TjLoMAL5syefajOPIMD1j9olaYUR6CLSIgWqYqqxiZny-3JsnovZ2vuAYDUL5kL2AEX66GUOrxF2NPpRbw8tOLQc~WZlYHFAjWC~D7lWwbV5-4EWqsybgYDDydPOQMPFEULjAE37Qfb3DY9XhG3drCFVaJPPxHX9t0yeH-Rqqp~3rn-z13XugTvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lee County School District","date","2025-08-06T15:55:37.257Z","article","The Lee County School Board voted 4-3 on Aug. 5 to approve an employment contract with Kathy Dupree Bruno, Esquire, BCS, making the term effective immediately and extending through June 30, 2027, under the contract terms discussed at the meeting.

Attorney Kevin Quick, representing the board’s negotiations, told members the two principal outstanding issues from earlier workshops were “termination” (whether a supermajority was required) and “severance” (initially 20 weeks). Quick said Bruno agreed to reduce the severance to 18 weeks and to remove the supermajority requirement so that a simple majority of the board could terminate the contract.

Quick also noted a clarifying provision to be added to paragraph 5: “but in no event shall Ms. Dupree Bruno be entitled to a salary greater than that received by the superintendent.” Quick asked the board to allow routine scrivener corrections to the draft contract to fix formatting or cross-references.

Board discussion focused on the severance cost and governance philosophy. Superintendent Carlin asked staff for updated fiscal impact numbers for an 18-week severance; the superintendent reported the severance amount would be $106,003.77 and the total annual cost tied to the position would be $434,008.58 if the severance option were exercised. Several board members questioned whether an unconditional 18-week severance was appropriate; one member said the amount equaled multiple teacher salaries. Board member Langford Fleming clarified that the 18-week severance would be paid “regardless of whether or not the attorney is employed by someone else at that point in time.” Attorney Quick confirmed that provision was part of the negotiated agreement.

Motion and vote: The superintendent read the recommendation to approve the employment contract with Kathy Dupree Bruno. The motion to adopt the recommendation was moved by Miss Ribble and seconded by Miss Jordan. A roll-call vote recorded affirmative votes from Miss Giovinelli, Mister Riddle, Miss Jordan and Mister Persons and negative votes from Miss Langford Fleming, Miss Taviano and the presiding chair, resulting in a 4-3 approval.

Official action and next steps: Attorney Quick said that once finalized and signed the new contract would supersede prior agreements with the board attorney. He was directed to follow up with staff and with Kathy Dupree Bruno to implement the contract, including making non-substantive scrivener corrections and adding the salary-limit language.

Discussion vs. decision: The board’s approval was a formal action (vote 4-3). The meeting record shows substantive discussion about termination thresholds, severance amount and fiscal impact; the board did not adopt any additional policy changes beyond approving the contract as amended.

Taper: Board members said they appreciated the work of Attorney Quick and of Kathy Dupree Bruno even when they disagreed about contractual philosophy; the board directed staff and counsel to finalize the contract language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Action Meeting: August 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lee County School Board approved an employment contract for Kathy Dupree Bruno, Esquire, BCS, revising termination and severance terms (simple majority for termination; severance reduced to 18 weeks). The motion passed 4-3 after board discussion and a roll-call vote.","taxTitle","Lee, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14346,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6143081,"Residents say Alva high school site will raise costs, lengthen busing and risk student safety",1645,1202000,2847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5536119-0ebcab6630a37d2082fa33b550d2eafe&start=1202&end=2847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5536119-0ebcab6630a37d2082fa33b550d2eafe/thumbnail_1202000.jpg","/articles/6143081/Lee/School-Districts/Florida/Residents-say-Alva-high-school-site-will-raise-costs-lengthen-busing-and-risk-student-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6143081-5a2eab29ffc86c0ca85a8a0f178600df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171494&Signature=LZOPMVsJNNLBzjflEILpGQ0n4NXmzxwJO408d7Mn92CBq~dw2eGK4J1XJSUk75vWW3XJ6~jrvfOH0~bkAZkYrOzsVLo-0XZKgQF8u029~0~M~JP69Y2umgwBs6QrvO11kK23eUBmmwiJQCQb63ISSJvdpwXoDeHJig7i-r4zHWFYeIc0y7vm0UIb7BlV0YHdR~EWZ-FCrdFTjWO52q11qX~Ao4eFOrvL~fRx1D65WITzxZTZqviWCSmpEF8mr7-NiqWmfzOcNl49Gst3g5TRU~n6S3g4lFoCB~ZCCTFfZEaiFBu~vKvAnTHYyli6LNbDzLzDYFx85~dPZrzaU~hk0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Denise Eberly urged the Lee County School Board on Aug. 5 to halt the district’s proposed high school project in Alva and consider building instead in Lehigh Acres, arguing the Alva site lacks roads, water and other infrastructure and will increase public costs and student travel times.

Eberly told the board the project “is now expected to exceed $160,000,000,” and that the increase is “driven by $22,500,000 in additional infrastructure costs solely because this selected site now lacks the necessary infrastructure, roads, utilities, water services, which now must be built using public funds.”

The comment period drew other residents who raised similar concerns. Amanda Cochran said the district’s “projected growth” rationale does not justify placing a major school in a rural, undeveloped area instead of “the already densely populated community of Lehigh Acres.” Cochran asked the board for “a full and transparent cost analysis comparing the Alva site and the Lehigh site” and said she had documented and sourced the data from the district’s materials.

Parent advocate Sergio Cruz and several other speakers pressed the board about equity and student needs. James Kennedy and other residents said placing a school at the Alva site will raise transportation costs and add wear and tear on buses because the site is farther from where many students live. Kennedy asked the board to publish bus-driver counts, needed drivers, and the projected transportation cost impacts so taxpayers can evaluate the trade-offs.

Katrina Salak (identifies herself as addressing Superintendent Carlin) questioned the district’s water infrastructure planning, saying experts had told her the school would use “about 10,600 gallons of water daily, yet it's getting a 500,000 gallon tank” and that “only 135 homes actually exist nearby,” which she said indicated surrounding development remained speculative.

Speakers linked the siting choice to student safety. Amanda Cochran said her family was personally affected by a roadway fatality near Joel Boulevard and Tuckahoe and that, without “real upgrades,” placing students on longer routes increases the chance of a crash.

Why it matters: Several public commenters said the site decision could cost tens of millions in additional public funds, change bus routing and daily student commute lengths, and raise safety concerns on local roads. Multiple speakers asked the board to re-evaluate site selection using the district’s own data and the Phase 1 site-selection process.

Discussion vs. action: Remarks about the Alva site were made during the public comment period; no board motion, vote or formal change to the site selection was recorded in this meeting. Commenters referenced the district’s Phase 1 site-selection process and urged staff and the board to reconsider the chosen site using comparative cost and safety data.

Supporting details and requested follow-up from speakers
- Project cost cited by Denise Eberly: “expected to exceed $160,000,000.”
- Additional infrastructure cost cited by Eberly: “$22,500,000.”
- Water usage cited by a speaker (Katrina Salak): estimated school use “about 10,600 gallons of water daily”; referenced district plan for a “500,000 gallon tank.”
- Nearby existing homes cited by a speaker: “only 135 homes actually exist nearby.”
- Public commenters requested: a transparent, side-by-side cost analysis comparing Alva/Elva and Lehigh Acres sites; published transportation impact figures (bus-driver counts, fuel/time costs); and review of the Phase 1 site-selection findings.

Attribution: Quotes and attributions in this article come from the public commenters listed below. The board did not adopt or vote on any change to the high school site during this meeting.

Taper: Commenters said there is still time to revise the decision and asked the board and superintendent to use district-provided data to reconsider alternative sites; no board action on that request was recorded at the meeting.","Multiple speakers at the Aug. 5 Lee County School Board meeting urged the district to reconsider the proposed Alva (Elva) high school site, arguing it lacks infrastructure, will cost tens of millions more and will increase student busing and safety risks for Lehigh Acres students.","actionData","errors"]

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School board approves employment contract with board attorney; vote 4-3 after severance and termination changes

Residents say Alva high school site will raise costs, lengthen busing and risk student safety