Beach Elementary will not reopen this school year, alternative sites being considered
Lee County School District officials have notified Fort Myers Beach Elementary School parents that students will not be able to return to the school this year due to damage from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, though alternative sites are being considered for a temporary facility.
An architectural review of the school building last month showed two major issues according to a report shared by the school district with Fort Myers Beach Elementary School parents and an ad-hoc committee that includes members of the community.
The report stated that pillars supporting the building are overexposed due to the storm surge from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, and the school building has extensive termite damage.
In a message sent by Lee County School District officials, parents were told that an investigation is currently ongoing into options for returning students to the island at a temporary location. “We will also consider the best repair options and create three sub-committees to provide further input,” the message stated.
Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt, who has been involved with the ad-hoc committee since Hurricane Ian, said the options include the town hall trailers once the town moves into its new town hall. Another option being explored is the Fort Myers Beach Library.
Students have been attending San Carlos Park Elementary School since Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton struck the Beach Elementary School this past fall.
This is the second time students at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School have been forced to attend classes at San Carlos Park Elementary. Students spent more than a year attending San Carlos Park Elementary after Hurricane Ian.
Students have been back at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School since December of 2023 after the district undertook a multi-million dollar restoration of the school.