Residents, environmental advocates press Lee County school board over proposed Alva school site

Dozens of Alva-area residents urged the Lee County School Board on July 29 to move a planned East Zone school away from a proposed site at Joel Boulevard and Tuckahoe, saying the Joel site would harm protected wildlife, worsen long bus rides and require costly utility work.

The issue drew sustained public comment and board discussion, culminating in the board directing staff to place the matter on a workshop for Aug. 5 with the intention of bringing it to the action agenda that night if outstanding questions are resolved.

The disagreement centers on two district-owned parcels: the Joel-and-David site (referred to repeatedly in public comment) and a parcel in Alva near Tuckahoe and Joel. Speakers said the Joel-and-David site already has water, sewer and electric infrastructure and would reduce student busing and related costs; they argued the Alva site would require new utilities and road upgrades and would sit between Hickey Creek Mitigation and the Alva Scrub Preserve, harming a wildlife corridor.

“Killing that wildlife corridor and then putting water and sewer in that area is just going to invite development,” said Kyle Wade, an Alva resident and Florida Gulf Coast University environmental-science student, who urged the board to build “where the students live and protect our wildlife.” Wade said the Joel-and-David parcel has city water and sewer ready, while the Alva site does not.

David Carter, an Alva resident living near the proposed site, told the board the roads around Tuckahoe and Joel are two-lane, often in poor repair and not scheduled for upgrades for years. “You’re gonna put buses full of kids on them,” Carter said, citing potholes, narrow shoulders and inconsistent bus arrival times for his grandchildren.

Multiple speakers raised wildlife concerns, saying they have observed Florida panthers, scrub jays and gopher tortoises using the corridor that would be split by the Alva site. “You’re going to build in the middle of the corridor when you don’t have to,” said James Cady, an Alva resident who also questioned whether permitting and Army Corps and Southwest Florida Water Management District approvals had been secured.

Several speakers criticized the district’s transparency. “Decisions are made behind closed doors without stakeholder input,” said Katrina Salazar, summarizing work from neighborhood subject-matter experts who collected petitions and prepared a written response for board members. Speakers said petitions submitted previously included hundreds of signatures (speakers cited figures of 295 and 600) opposing the Alva location.

Board members acknowledged the community concern and disagreed about whether the Alva property had long been held for school construction. Board member Giovannelli said the district purchased property for schools in 2007 and maintained the site had been planned for school use; other members and several public commenters said public outreach has been inconsistent and that earlier committees and promised community meetings had not occurred.

After public comment, board members discussed process. Several members said they wanted the contract and supporting documents available before the Aug. 5 workshop and for conflict counsel to consult with board members in advance so the workshop could focus on resolving remaining disagreements. Superintendent Dr. Carlin and board counsel agreed conflict counsel would contact board members and forward the proposed contract and materials prior to Aug. 5.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of meeting agenda: Motion carried 7-0 (moved by Mr. Person; second by Mr. Bridal). Recorded as a procedural vote at the start of the meeting.

- Approval of consent agenda (includes administrator assignments and multiple routine items): Motion carried 7-0 (moved by Mr. Rivels; seconded by Mrs. Chaviano). The superintendent announced new administrator assignments that took effect through the approved consent agenda.

What happens next

The board scheduled the school-siting matter for a workshop on Aug. 5 and indicated an intent to place it on the action agenda that same evening if outstanding legal and procedural questions can be answered. Conflict counsel was asked to contact board members and provide the contract and related documents in advance of the workshop.

Community members and conservation advocates said they plan to continue attending meetings and delivering petitions to the board until they are satisfied with the district’s plans and outreach.