Fort Myers Beach leaders, parents press Lee County to honor interlocal agreement and reopen Beach Elementary

Fort Myers Beach held a special town council meeting May 28 where parents, business leaders and town officials urged the Lee County School District to honor an interlocal agreement that calls for a phased rebuild of Fort Myers Beach Elementary and a new permanent cafeteria. The council voted unanimously to direct the town manager and town attorney to “look into all possible options to ensure that the school district adheres to the ILA,” a motion moved by the vice mayor and seconded by Councilor King.

The parents' ad hoc committee framed the meeting as proof that community effort and partnerships have already begun to restore the school. "We are here as the parents of the ad hoc committee to represent our children in our community, to educate and to inform, and to ask for your assistance in ensuring that the school district honors the ILA that is in place," said Jenny Tardup Paradiso, treasurer of the PTO and an ad hoc committee member. The group described steady enrollment gains and community partnerships that they say should keep the school viable.

Why it matters: the interlocal agreement (ILA) signed after Hurricane Ian sets a four‑year schedule of benchmarks including renovation of the historic classroom building and construction of a separate cafeteria/kitchen facility. Parents and council members said the cafeteria component was supposed to be funded and underway this fiscal year and that its absence has increased distrust. "We were supposed to have a cafeteria building by the end of this school year. It's not there," said Monica Schmucker, vice president of the PTO and ad hoc member.

Parents and ad hoc presenters walked the council through data they say shows progress under the ILA. The group reported enrollment had reached 72 students the day before Tropical Storm Milton and that with that headcount the district’s earlier per‑student calculation would have been roughly $13,271. Using current district figures the ad hoc said per‑student costs are now about $15,414; under earlier ILA calculations the school had been near parity with other barrier‑island schools. Presenter John Cas said the town reduced personnel costs at the school from about $1,447,000 to roughly $955,000, a near $490,000 reduction.

Ad hoc members pressed the district on apparent changes in the district’s cost and enrollment assumptions and on a third‑party consultant the district hired. "They hired somebody upwards of $200,000 worth to try to figure out a way on how to get out of that deal," Schmucker said, arguing the town and parents had met their commitments under the ILA. The ad hoc committee said the consultant would not share its scope with local stakeholders and that the consultant used outdated or low enrollment inputs (the committee says the district told the consultant to assume 50 students while the school had 72).

Presenters also highlighted community contributions and funding that they say strengthen the case for keeping the school open. Former principal Tracy Koehler said the school received an international Rotary grant worth nearly $200,000 that paid for STEM equipment, field trips and other instructional materials; community groups and residents have provided additional donations, new playground equipment and volunteer labor.

Business and development leaders told the council they expect multiple projects and resort reopenings to bring workers and families to the island and described efforts to include school‑support commitments in approvals. "Some of these projects have provided economic analyses and projections," said planner Patrick Venas. He cited examples of proposed projects projecting new jobs and wages that, he said, should generate new school families and help enrollment.

Town attorney Nancy (first name on record) reviewed the ILA timeline and enforcement options at the meeting and said the agreement contains notice and default provisions as well as an "unavoidable delay" clause that can extend deadlines for circumstances beyond either party’s control. She also noted Florida law (Chapter 164) requires mediation before litigation between two governmental entities.

Next steps taken at the meeting included a unanimous motion directing the town manager and town attorney to explore all options to ensure the school district adheres to the ILA, and a request that the town and ad hoc committee pursue organized participation at the Lee County School District's June 3 workshop on Fort Myers Beach Elementary. Town staff said they have a pending public‑records request for the consultant report and expect to receive it soon. The council asked staff to request the consultant’s scope of work and any draft reports so the town can review inputs and assumptions.

The council also approved the meeting agenda earlier in the session (motion by Councilor King, seconded by Councilor Stafford; unanimous). Council members and speakers repeatedly framed the meeting as collaborative, saying they prefer to work with the district to accelerate the phased rebuild rather than litigate.

The town’s motion instructing staff to research legal and administrative options passed unanimously. Councilors did not set a specific legal action but asked staff to return with options for further council consideration; staff said mediation is a statutory prerequisite to litigation between local governments under Florida law. The town and the ad hoc committee plan to present at the district workshop on June 3 and to request expedited access to the consultant report and scope before the workshop. If the district proceeds to a policy decision, council members said, they will press elected school board members with the community’s data and commitments.

Ending: Parents, business leaders and long‑time residents closed the meeting with public comments stressing the school’s historical and community value. Several speakers described the school as critical to local workforce recruitment and retention and urged swift action to complete the phased rebuild so students can return to the island school as soon as possible.