Lee County School District provides update on repairs after Hurricane Ian

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County continues to move forward with repairs post Hurricane Ian with bid requests pending for the replacement of a heavily damaged Cape Coral school

The solicitation for the planned Hector A Cafferata Elementary School K-8 school is due on July 14

School Superintendent Dr Christopher Bernier said it provides a unique opportunity to put solicitation out for a public, private partnership

“All local contractors are eligible to bid,” he said

Perhaps the biggest step is taking place at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, as demolition of outbuildings is under way with half the work done as of Tuesday night

Bernier said the district is not touching the historic building of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, as it will stay in place

“The demolition of Fort Myers Beach Elementary outer buildings is 50 percent

“The demolition of Fort Myers Beach Elementary outer buildings is 50 percent complete It will look worse before it looks better ”

Dr Christopher Bernier, superintendent of Lee County Schools

complete It will look worse before it looks better,” he said

In addition, Bernier said the design for Fort Myers Beach renovations are now complete The necessary plans to move forward are being put together with a gross project estimate cost to come back to the board

The innovation, to bid for construction purposes, was advertised last week for Fort Myers Beach Elementary School

The update shared information about the ongoing hurricane repairs for roofing, flooring, drywall and painting Bernier said approximately 88 percent of districtwide hurricane service requests to their maintenance department have been completed

The remainder of the update went through a photograph slideshow of hurricane damage to now One of the schools included Lexington Middle School, a flooddamaged building, which has had a great deal of work done on the first floor with carpet and tiles being laid as well as new drywall going up and paint being applied

The gymnasium was also touched upon, as Lee County shares the space with the school district. Bernier said the wood for the gym floor is now in the facility and is becoming accumulated to the moisture and humidity in the room before being completed

At Diplomat Middle School, where the roof was lost, photographs showed new cabinets and sinks for the science labs

Bernier also provided an update on Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School He said one corner of the roof had peeled back.

“The southwest corner had been exposed to the wind for so long the wind got under it and peeled it back,” Bernier said, adding that workers are removing damaged material and getting down to the core of the roof

The roof is also being fixed at Gulf Middle School to keep water from intruding inside the building

Bernier said they had a great meeting with Imperium He said the deadline for A, debris removal, and B, emergency preparedness, projects has a deadline of June 29. Everything has been filled and the district has have received partial payment

“We are working towards a better understanding when the federal government will move to the 90/10 rule,” Bernier said, adding that they will replace 90 percent, leaving 10 percent for the district to cover

He said the district is thankful for the Lee County Legislative Delegation and Gov Ron DeSantis for his signature on the state budget Bernier said there are hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to districts like Lee County which were impacted by Hurricane Ian He said there is an opportunity to receive gap dollars back from the state of Florida for that 10 percent not covered

Project Hope Resource Clinic and Support Groups

CPE - Project Hope will be holding a Resource Clinic and Support Groups at the Pine Island Community Church, located at 5320 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City, every Thursday from 5-8 p m

Resource Clinic will be held from 5-6 p m

Women's Support Group 6-7 p m

Men's Support Group 7-8 p m