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County approves Lee County Schools' application for needs‑based lottery capital grant; board了承 to provide local match
Summary
The Board authorized Lee County Schools to apply for a needs‑based public school capital fund grant; the project (a new elementary school estimated at about $56 million) would require a local match of roughly $14.24 million and county payment of land costs if the grant is awarded.
Lee County commissioners on Sept. 15 authorized the school board to submit an application for the state needs‑based public school capital fund (lottery) for a proposed new elementary school. School officials presented an estimated project cost of approximately $56 million; under the grant’s formulas they expect the state portion to be about $41.76 million and the local match to be roughly $14.24 million. The local match commitment would need to be in place for the project to be eligible for award.
Staff and school representatives said the grant decision timeline would likely be announced around December or January, and that the application is due in October. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about land availability, timing for land purchase and redistricting implications; staff said there is currently no suitable county‑owned parcel that meets all site requirements without access improvements and that land acquisition and site planning would proceed if the grant is awarded. Commissioners moved to approve the application request and the motion passed by voice vote.
The vote authorizes the county to support the application and signals willingness to provide the required local match and to consider land acquisition as part of the project timeline; the schools and county staff will pursue site options and return with more detailed cost and schedule information as the grant process proceeds.
