{"id":25760,"date":"2025-10-29T22:14:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T22:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/25760\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T22:14:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T22:14:19","slug":"superintendent-says-hurricanes-have-altered-the-circumstances-in-letter-to-fort-myers-beach-over-reopening-elementary-school-fort-myers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/25760\/","title":{"rendered":"Superintendent says hurricanes have \u201caltered the circumstances\u201d in letter to Fort Myers Beach over reopening elementary school – FORT MYERS"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Fort Myers Beach Elementary School. Photo by Nathan Mayberg<\/p>\n


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School District of Lee County Superintendent Dr. Carlin made clear In a letter sent to Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay that she believes the district is not in violation of an interlocal agreement as the town has alleged, through the continued closure of the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School since Hurricane Milton last year. And that the district is in no hurry to reopen it.<\/p>\n

The letter lays the groundwork for how the school district will oppose the town council\u2019s efforts to reopen the elementary school, by citing damage to the school from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton last year, and what Carlin argues are fiscal issues that give the right to the school district to delay the reopening of the school.<\/p>\n

The letter was sent from Carlin to McKannay two weeks after the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council voted to initiate a mediation and conflict resolution process to force the School District of Lee County to reopen the Fort Myers Beach Council, the superintendent cited multiple court cases to bolster her position, illustrating and stressing the power of the school board to make decisions as to when, how and if to reopen the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School.<\/p>\n

The town, growing impatient after months of inaction by the school district superintendent and school board to take any steps toward reopening the school, initiated mediation proceedings this month scheduled for Nov. 5.<\/p>\n

The timing of the letter from Carlin two weeks after the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council\u2019s vote and wording suggests Carlin and the school board are likely digging in for a legal battle over the fate of the school. The school board has given mixed messages, largely vague in nature, of what will happen to the school.<\/p>\n

The letter from Carlin followed a vote by the school board earlier this month to ask the state to give permission to the school district to raze the elementary school campus. The vote followed a surprise presentation from Dr. Kenneth Savage, chief strategy officer for the school, in which he asked the board to approve sending the 141-page Castaldi report to the state.<\/p>\n

In her letter to McKannay, Carlin said the interlocal agreement \u201cprovides that Fort Myers Beach Elementary shall be<\/p>\n

operated \u2018in a sound and fiscally responsible way.\u2019 That condition frames every obligation under the agreement and establishes fiscal prudence as a continuing precondition to performance.<\/p>\n

Since its execution, however, the community has endured two additional hurricanes, Helene and<\/p>\n

Milton, renewing damage to the facility. These events have materially altered the circumstances<\/p>\n

and assumptions that supported the 2023 interlocal agreement and have significantly diminished the feasibility of<\/p>\n

achieving its original purpose: maintaining a safe, sustainable, and educationally viable school presence on the island.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carlin said the district \u201cremains fully committed to participating in the upcoming conflict-assessment meeting in good faith\u201d but that she does not believe the interlocal agreement between the town and school district can be \u201cinterpreted to transfer, limit, or condition the School Board\u2019s constitutional and statutory powers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the letter, Carlin states that state laws gives \u201cschool<\/p>\n

boards the exclusive constitutional authority to operate, control, and supervise the public schools within their respective districts. Florida law further reinforces this framework by assigning to school boards the sole responsibility for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and disposition of educational facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Board, Carlin said, has the \u201csole discretion\u201d to determine facility needs and student services at the elementary school.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Board remains committed to honoring the ILA (interlocal agreement) in good faith,\u201d Carlin said. \u201cHowever, it cannot<\/p>\n

lawfully interpret or apply the agreement in any manner that would override, diminish, or infringe upon its constitutional duty to operate, control, and supervise the public schools within Lee County.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carlin lays the foundation for the district\u2019s legal defense of its actions not to reopen the school by saying that \u201ccontinuing large-scale reconstruction under the present conditions, without first reviewing feasibility and purpose, would be inconsistent with both the interlocal agreement\u2019s foundational intent and the public policy requiring sound stewardship of taxpayer funds. Florida law does not compel performance that, due to materially changed conditions, would<\/p>\n

no longer serve the agreement\u2019s operative purpose or would result in the imprudent or inequitable<\/p>\n

use of public resources. The District\u2019s reassessment is thus not only reasonable but necessary to<\/p>\n

fulfill its statutory duty and constitutional charge to protect the public interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her letter, Carlin also argues against holding the mediation session at Fort Myers Beach Town Hall. Carlin said other Lee County residents have expressed \u201cinterest and concern\u201d about the school, who may want to attend.<\/p>\n

Fort Myers Beach parent Monica Schmucker, who was involved for months with an ad-hoc committee of community members and school parents who were working with administrators on reopening the school, said Carlin\u2019s decision not to meet with the Town Council and public at Fort Myers Beach Town Hall was \u201cvey telling\u201d about her feelings for the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey think they are untouchable,\u201d Schmucker said. \u201cI don\u2019t think the Superintendent has given any indication she does care. I don\u2019t think she has any interest in the kids of Fort Myers Beach at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schmucker said she thinks the town is acting in good faith to bring forth a resolution but doesn\u2019t expect the district to \u201cplay ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schmucker said she thinks the school district will just be attending the mediation \u201cto check a box.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay did not return a message regarding the letter in time for print.<\/p>\n


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