Teachers get opportunity to visit The Sanibel School campus

Nov 17, 2022 3 min read

The Lee County School Board got some good news Wednesday about two of the district’s most impacted schools.

Chief of Staff Michael Ramirez said at 2:45 p.m. buses arrived at San Carlos Park Elementary School to pick up The Sanibel School teachers to bring them out to their Hurricane Ian damaged school for the first time. He said mental health teams would be on the bus as well, as most of the staff and teachers have not been to the school since the storm.

Progress has already been made for the temporary Hector A. Cafferata Elementary School campus in Cape Coral. Ramirez said there is a proposed Dec. 5 completion date, which will include a lot of preparation after that date for teachers and staff setting up their spaces.

Pre-planning meetings are already under way of what that transition will look like, as well as mapping out the portables and which ones will be used for classrooms.

“Portable buildings have started to arrive this week. The kitchen and dining buildings are being installed today,” Ramirez said Wednesday.

As far as Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, engagement continues on a weekly basis. He said on Friday they shared proposed possibilities for the school.

“There is no decision that has been made,” he said. “We are trying to do our due diligence.”

Ramirez said the district is committed to engaging the Fort Myers Beach community in those conversations, as well as the newly elected officials.

“We are working together as we come up with the potential solutions,” he said.

The meeting is done with a core group that represents a larger group. As they continue to move with plans, much more dialogue will open up.

Currently there are 50 students enrolled at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, which is not driving any, or all decisions.

It was also shared with the board that Imperium held a presentation on Nov. 11 with the School District of Lee County Recovery Team specific to damages and assessments, as well as next steps.

Ramirez said they are in the process of scheduling a presentation to come before the board in December to share the information.

Emergency Grant Funds were also shared with the board, which is being done through The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. The grant process A, Florida Disaster Fund, is up to $5,000 with an application process open until Nov. 23. Ramirez said the prioritization is around housing and transportation.

The Grant Process B, Hurricane Ian Relief Fund, which is still being worked on, will also address students.

He said more will come with those particular pieces.