Bonita Springs council says Lee County School Board unresponsive on elementary-school preservation; staff directed to explore legal options

Bonita Springs councilmembers on April 16 expressed frustration with the Lee County School Board's handling of Bonita Springs Elementary and directed staff to consult the city attorney about possible next steps after roughly 10 months of meetings and enquiries.

Councilwoman Follick told colleagues that city staff and council members repeatedly tried to engage the school board about preserving a small historic section of the damaged school, but "as of this date, as of our last meeting, we have had absolutely no communications from the school board." She said the city's engineers determined the older exterior walls could not be repaired and the school would need to be rebuilt, but the city had asked only that the board replicate a 40-foot by 17.5-foot section of the building to retain a visible historic element.

Follick said architects and engineers estimated replicating that small section would cost between $150,000 and $250,000 (the school board had previously indicated $300,000). "All we've asked them for at the end of the day was to replicate a 40 foot by 17 and a half foot, section of the building," she said.

Council members said they had pursued the issue in good faith and asked the board's newly elected superintendent and other officials for responses that did not materialize. Follick said the only return calls had come from a single board member and that further delay suggested the city should escalate.

After discussion, the council directed staff and the city attorney to draft a letter and explore legal options to press the school board to respond. The record shows council sought a legal path that would compel a formal reply and potentially secure the requested replication detail; the council did not vote on a specific lawsuit or take a formal legal action at the meeting. City staff said they would report back with options and cost estimates.

Why it matters Bonita Springs said the damaged elementary school is one of few locally historic public buildings; council members argued that retaining a visible section of the original structure would preserve community memory. Councilmembers also noted the school's functional state — students have used portable classrooms for years — but said that does not negate the city's request for historic recognition.

What's next Staff will meet with the city attorney to draft a letter to the Lee County School Board and develop potential legal steps; council members asked staff to return with cost estimates and a proposed approach. No litigation was authorized at the April 16 meeting; the council approved only direction to staff to pursue legal consultation and next steps.