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

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…