The State of Florida has cleared the way to demolish Fort Myers Beach Elementary School.
Demolition is permitted under state rules but paused while Fort Myers Beach and the Lee County School District continue negotiating a $12 million plan that would keep a school on the island under a municipal charter model.
The Florida Department of Education approved a Castaldi report Jan. 9, which is a technical green light that says the 80-year-old campus costs too much to fix. Modernization would run about 80% of the price of a full replacement, crossing the state’s line for justified demolition.
That wasn’t news that town officials wanted to hear. But no wrecking crews followed.
At a Lee County School Board workshop Feb. 10, district leaders said approval doesn’t equal action. And no one is showing up with bulldozers.
Deputy Superintendent Kenneth Savage wanted to be very clear about that.
“What I also want to make sure I drew particular attention to was that in no way are our hands really tied that we have to demolish the building, that if we were to go down that path as we have with others, there would be a number of steps that would have to be done,” he said.
He pushed back on the misconception that the district plans to show up and bulldoze the school.
“That is just not going to happen. That is not what we have done, and that’s why we’re being transparent and visible with that. That is not our intention,” Savage said. “What we are recommending is an attempt to work with our partners at the town of Fort Myers Beach on an amicable solution that will preserve the historical needs of that site to honor our community and to work through that process.”
So, demolition is allowed, but paused.
Town’s counteroffer: keep the land, build a school, don’t erase the past
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers introduced a counterproposal during a state-required conflict-resolution meeting in November 2025. It calls on the school district to put $12 million toward a new, storm-hardened classroom building on the existing site. The Town would lease the land for 100 years at $1 per year, operate the school as a municipal charter and restore the original 1947 structure for community or heritage use.
“I think it’s the best situation,” Allers said during that meeting. “I think it’s something that works for both of us. It’s not something that’s ideal for either of us. It’s not something that either of us wanted, but we couldn’t control Mother Nature.”
Fort Myers Beach says the Castaldi report misses the point
Town Manager Will McKannay spoke directly to the school board during its workshop Feb. 10.
“Although we still feel strongly that you’re receiving an incomplete analysis in the Castaldi report, there’s important data sets we feel were missing. I want to emphasize, nobody in that report spoke to people from Fort Myers Beach, the town staff, the residents, experts in building on the beach,” McKannay said. “They weren’t part of that study.”
A day later, McKannay echoed the same message in a letter to residents, arguing the consultant analysis behind the Castaldi report didn’t reflect local expertise or the island community.
“It is important to note that the consultant report supporting this recommendation appears to rely on incomplete analysis and questionable research assumptions. The consultants did not meaningfully engage with Fort Myers Beach families, residents, Town leadership, Town planning and development professionals, or local coastal experts in engineering, construction, and resilience. For a decision that will shape the future of our island, comprehensive and locally informed input is essential,” his letter read.
The town has consistently argued that decisions are being made about Fort Myers Beach without Fort Myers Beach.
Why residents call it personal
For some residents, the debate is personal.
Commenting on the Town’s Facebook page, Judi Woods said her family members attended Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, adding that it “made a huge difference in their lives to go to school where they lived.” She said, “They either walked or rode their bikes to school with their FMB friends … they brought their lunches and shared with friends. They enjoyed the after school programs and still speak fondly of their teachers.”
She didn’t talk about cost ratios or enrollment projections. She talked about community and town history. “I volunteered there when I could and would hate to see our wonderful history destroyed by what appears to be nothing but disrespect and moronic decision making,” Woods wrote.
The district’s math and its line in the sand
The school district’s position hasn’t changed much. Officials say Fort Myers Beach Elementary costs too much to operate and serves too few students.
District data puts the per-student cost at $27,736, nearly triple the district average. Only 41 students are currently assigned to Beach Elementary classes housed at Heights Elementary, and only 20 of those students live on the island.
And the island is aging, the Castaldi report shows. The island’s median age is 68.4, with no projected growth in the elementary-age population.
During mediation last fall, School Board Attorney Kathy Dupuy-Bruno said the board can’t ignore those numbers, contract or not.
“Conditions changed materially after hurricanes Helen and Milton, and the board must act within its constitutional duty, statutory authority and fiduciary duties in being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. The school district is committed to a lawful, fiscally responsible and sustainable solution for the Fort Myers Beach family, such as a charter school, and the district looks forward to our discussions today.”
At the school board workshop meeting Feb. 10, School Board member Samuel Fisher said, “My heart truly goes out to Fort Myers Beach, but I’m going to reiterate on my own that the district needs to be done with this building. I hope we can work something out with Fort Myers Beach, Fisher said. “I know how important it is to their community and what it means to them, and I’m excited for that. But as a district, plainly, we need to get this off of our books, and we need to move on at that standpoint. I just wanted to say I wish Fort Myers Beach the best, and I hope we can work something out.”
Where does this leave the beach school?
Fort Myers Elementary School remains in limbo.
Demolition is approved but paused. Negotiations are active. Follow-up meetings are being scheduled. Superintendent Denise Carlin has said the district is maintaining a collaborative approach with the Town.
Fort Myers Beach is still pushing for a school on the island, whether it wears a district logo or not.
For now, the building stands.
Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com.
Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Beach school cleared for demo, $12M charter plan could still save it
Reporting by Mickenzie Hannon, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
