(By Ellie Bunting) In 1937, parents on Fort Myers Beach came together to open a local school because they understood what research now confirms: neighborhood schools are the heart of a community. Give Fort Myers Beach School the Chance It Deserves From its start in a borrowed cottage with just 25 students, our island school has grown into a vital institution—educationally, culturally, and socially.
Over the decades, enrollment has risen and fallen, especially with the seasonal nature of our population. At one point, the school served over 325 students. In the 1990s, when I was PTA president, we had 250 students enrolled. More recently, rising housing costs and devastating storms have reduced those numbers—but not our commitment.
After Hurricane Ian, the school was repaired, and students briefly returned home. But subsequent storms closed it again. Now, parents and educators are working hard to meet the enrollment benchmarks set by the District. We are committed—but we need the District’s commitment in return…