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Consultants find Fort Myers Beach Elementary repeatedly flood‑prone; board given procedural pathway to reclassification and options
Summary
A consultant Castaldi analysis presented to the Lee County School Board concludes Fort Myers Beach Elementary is at high risk of repetitive flooding and cites modernization costs about 80% of replacement; staff outlined procedural next steps including a DOE letter, potential Section 106 review and local historic board consultation. Town officials urged continued collaboration to preserve a school on the site.
Consultants and district staff told the Lee County School Board on Feb. 10 that Fort Myers Beach Elementary faces repeated storm surge flooding and high long‑term costs that make continued investment in the existing building financially risky.
"Currently, the building is unsafe since it has no floor on the interior, and we find that economically unjustifiable," consultant speakers said during a presentation of the Castaldi assessment and facility analysis. The report estimated modernization costs at roughly 80 percent of replacement and warned those repairs would have a limited 7–10 year life before further investment would be required.
The district and consultants said the analysis shows low utilization at about 43 percent and a per‑pupil operating cost far above the district average. The presentation cited an operational baseline cost of approximately $800,000 to $1,000,000…
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