School board workshop previews interlocal offer to convey Fort Myers Beach school property to the town

Deputy Superintendent Ken Savage previewed a draft interlocal agreement in a Lee County School Board workshop that would transfer the Fort Myers Beach Elementary site — including the historic building, adjoining parcels and playground — to the town, with materials and technical assistance to help the town pursue a municipal or third‑party charter school.

Savage framed the proposal as a way to preserve the community’s desire for a school while protecting district stewardship of taxpayer assets. "This is coming directly from you all, so this is not coming from a town," Savage said, describing the offer as a legally drafted interlocal agreement between two government entities. He emphasized the conveyance would be conditional: the town must apply for a charter and follow milestones written into the agreement before the district relinquishes ownership of the property.

The draft includes protections for the district. Board attorney Rob Dodig outlined three bases for property reversion: the town never establishes a charter, the charter closes after formation, or the town breaches the agreement by using the property for an unauthorized purpose. Savage also said the agreement contains a reversionary‑interest provision and appraisal remedies, and a force‑majeure clause to pause the clock for catastrophic events.

Savage and staff sought to correct misunderstandings about past storm funding. "When we received a FEMA notice that said $11,400,000 ... it made it sound as if there's a little bank account with Fort Myers Beach on it. What it really is is an acknowledgment from FEMA that dollars $11,400,000 worth of damage occurred there," Savage said, adding FEMA payments have been largely credited against the state LAP loan and are not a separate earmarked cash balance the district can spend.

Board members and town leaders expressed broad support for moving the draft to the board’s action agenda for a later vote. "We're ready to put this baby to bed, and get, you know, this on its way for the students and for the families on Fort Myers Beach," Board Member Jordan said. Mayor Dan Allers and other Fort Myers Beach officials who spoke during the meeting urged the board to allow the town early access to begin site work if possible, while acknowledging legal and timing details would need to be addressed.

Several board members raised implementation questions. Members asked how many district parcels would be conveyed (Savage said "all of our parcels that we have" at the site) and whether materials such as buses or furniture might be transferred to reduce operational startup costs for a municipal charter. Savage said the draft proposes some materials and technical assistance to maximize the town’s ability to secure funding and operate a school, but stressed these offers are contingent on written milestones.

Savage framed the proposal as fiscally prudent: it would not require the district to write a check or reallocate current funds but would transfer an asset and support the town’s ability to operate a school. The board directed staff to add the draft interlocal to the evening action agenda so members and the public could review the document in full and consider a formal vote.

The board workshop discussion did not produce a binding action; Savage said any final conveyance would require a later, formal vote. "If the board comes to an agreement today during your discussion, based on the feedback that you have that you'd like to make a proposal, we also have set aside a place on the action agenda for an agreement to be transmitted to the town," Savage said. The interlocal would become binding only after the board voted on the action item and the district transmitted a formal offer to the town.