We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Senator Scott, Senator Moody, and Congressman Donalds for their ongoing support and dedication in assisting the recovery efforts for Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Ian. Your leadership and commitment truly make a difference in helping us rebuild and restore our beloved community.
The Town staff and council are proud to be working closely with the Lee County School Board to reopen Fort Myers Beach Elementary School. Since the storm, we have been committed to adhering to the existing in-place interlocal agreement between the Town and the School District, meant to keep the school operational even during this challenging recovery period. Thanks to the federal FEMA disaster recovery award of $11,344,424.03, which is part of a broader project totaling $19,546,275.07, this award should help make significant progress toward restoring this vital community asset and ensuring the school can reopen and operate as soon as possible.
This funding, authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act, will fund the permanent repairs and replacement of the six main buildings severely impacted by storm surge, wind, and rain. The damage to 12 buildings was extensive, prompting a full replacement of the most critical structures to restore the school to its pre-disaster capacity. The scope of work includes removing and replacing foundation components, exterior walls, roofing, windows, doors, interior partitions, finishes, plumbing, HVAC, electrical systems, fire alarms, sprinklers, and communication systems. The goal is to restore the school within its existing footprint, in compliance with all applicable codes and standards, to ensure a safe, modern environment for our students.
This critical funding will help us adhere to the existing interlocal agreement by supporting the rebuild efforts needed to keep the school operational and accessible to our students and families, especially in this recovery phase. We remain dedicated to supporting the Lee County School District throughout this process and are eager to have our students back in their classrooms as soon as possible.
Thank you again to our leaders and everyone involved in this vital recovery effort. We look forward to seeing Fort Myers Beach rebuild and thrive, with our youngest learners back in their school soon.
Town Manager Will McKannay states, “As we move forward in our recovery efforts, I want to reaffirm the Town of Fort Myers Beach’s strong commitment to working closely with the Lee County School District to rebuild and reopen Fort Myers Beach Elementary School. This school is a cornerstone of our community, and its restoration is vital to the families and future of our island.
We are proud to continue honoring the interlocal agreement that has supported the school’s operation, even through the most challenging times. The recent FEMA award of over $11.3 million, part of a larger $19.5 million recovery project, marks a significant step toward restoring the school’s facilities to their full capacity and ensuring a safe, modern learning environment for our students.
Our collaboration with the School District is rooted in shared values and a mutual commitment to the well-being of our children and families. Together, we will ensure that this project moves forward efficiently and transparently, with the goal of welcoming students back to their classrooms as soon as possible.
We thank our federal and state partners for their continued support and look forward to seeing Fort Myers Beach Elementary thrive once again.”
We are committed to seeing this project through swiftly and effectively so we can keep our promise to our community: to rebuild, restore, and keep Fort Myers Beach Elementary School operational for our students’ future.