Fort Myers Beach parents, councilors press school board as June 3 vote nears

Parents and town volunteers urged residents to watch for and respond to a consultant’s report about Fort Myers Beach School’s future, saying the district’s June 3 board meeting could be decisive.

Patrick Venas, a Beach resident and parent, said Tuesday that the district has hired a consultant “charged with determining the viability of the school” and that an ad hoc committee will meet this week with district officials to review the consultant’s findings. He urged residents to attend the June 3 school board meeting and to contact school board members if the consultant’s report recommends closing or altering the school’s functions.

The ad hoc committee Venas described includes local residents and some district staff; Venas said the committee has been meeting weekly and expects the consultant’s report to be issued and discussed at an in-person ad hoc meeting scheduled for Thursday before the June 3 board meeting. He said the town’s interlocal agreement with the district had already codified much of the work the town and parents completed (reducing cost-per-student and increasing enrollment), and warned that a negative consultant recommendation would force a broader campaign to persuade elected board members.

Parents and nonprofit representatives at Tuesday’s council meeting stressed community stakes. Carrie Hendry and others representing the Beach Kids Foundation said keeping the school helps retain families and community cohesion on the island. Several public commenters urged residents to attend the district meeting and to contact school board members, saying the elected board might still act to preserve the school if it hears from constituents.

Town councilors and staff briefed the public on the timeline. Council members said the official vote will take place at the school board’s June 3 meeting, but several speakers warned that the consultant’s report and tone of the ad hoc committee meeting could shape the outcome before that date. The town has been coordinating with parents and district liaisons but emphasized the decision authority lies with the district board.

The council did not take formal action on the school at Tuesday’s meeting. Town staff and citizen volunteers said they will keep the public informed about the consultant’s release and the ad hoc committee’s meeting so residents can respond before the June 3 board meeting.

Looking ahead, organizers urged community members to: (1) attend the June 3 Lee County School Board meeting; (2) contact elected board members respectfully if the consultant report is negative; and (3) follow the ad hoc committee’s publicly scheduled meeting this week for updates on the report and next steps.