School district continues to hone proximity plan
The School District of Lee County continues to perfect its middle school proximity plan, which is planned to roll out for the 2024-25 school year.
“The reality of these plans is to create more community-like schools and to ensure our students get to school on time,” Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said, adding that is the most comprehensive need. “In 2026, state law requires school districts in the state of Florida to flip their schedules. Elementary school in the first tier, middle schools in second tier and high schools last because high schools are credit-bearing classes. It is essential we work every process possible to increase our on-time delivery.”
Bernier said proximity is literally that — trying to create proximate attendance zones surrounding school buildings where children can walk, bike and ride safely to their school building. The district is trying to get back to more community schools.
“There are choices in which parents can choose a middle school and if it’s not within walking distance, or hazardous walking conditions, transportation can be provided,” he said.
Parents with students who remain at their school outside of their proximity zone can do so, but they have to provide their own transportation. It will create better proficiency for bus drivers.
A year ago, Bernier said they were looking for more than 175 bus drivers, compared to 70 now.
“We never said elementary proximity would fix everything. We think middle school is the next step,” he said.
The Lee County School Board had another presentation regarding the plan during its meeting on Nov. 1, which dove a little deeper into application programs continuing at six sites — Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts, Cypress Lake Middle, Harns Marsh Middle School, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts, Oak Hammock Middle School and Veterans Park Academy for the Arts.
“While not everybody can compare to a center for the arts, we are working to ensure there is a viable arts program in every single school. An arts program is vital to every school building, not just a center for the arts,” Bernier said.
Planning Growth & Capacity Director Dr. Adam Molloy said the proximity plan will not impact the programs and offerings at schools, which are now accessible districtwide. A student that lives in South Fort Myers can now apply for the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts, audition, and secure entrance for the program.
“If admitted and live outside of the proximity zone, transportation must be provided by the family,” he said, adding transportation is “only provided if the school arts program is within the middle school proximity zone.”
The middle school proximity plan, which will come before the board for approval on Nov. 21 for the final plan, will be implemented for the 2024-25 school year and will immediately impact:
– Incoming sixth-grade students
– Middle school students new to the district
– Rising middle school students living outside of their current school’s proximity attendance zone and needing transportation.
“On Nov. 21 (we will) present the final plan for student assignment. Upon approval, (the district will) kick start the communication campaign for preparation of the middle school lottery,” Molloy said.
The proximity plan took the number of choices from 5.5 schools to 2.2 choices with an average square mile of 87, approximately half the miles the district is responsible for with the current plan, he said.
There are schools designated in each proximity zone, which includes:
– AA — Mariner Middle School and Trafalgar Middle School
– BB — Challenger Middle School and Gulf Middle School
– CC — Caloosa Middle School, Diplomat Middle School and North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts
– DD — The Alva School
– EE — Fort Myers Middle Academy, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School
– FF — Cypress Lake Middle School and Lexington Middle School
– GG — Bonita Springs Middle School and Three Oaks Middle School
– HH — Lemuel Teal Middle School, Lehigh Acres Middle School and Veterans Park Academy for the Arts
– JJ — Harns Marsh Middle School, Oak Hammock Middle School and Varsity Lakes Middle School
– LL — The Sanibel School
Within the continuation enrollment window, Molloy said students can choose to stay out of the zone, thereby waiving transportation, or opt to enter a new zone.
There is also a sibling option. The option gives the opportunity to enroll a rising middle school student in the same school even if it is designated outside of their proximity zone.
ESE students with disabilities can also maintain enrollment at their current school and receive transportation from the district.
The presentation also addressed those schools that are K-8 — North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts, Alva School and Veterans Park Academy for the Arts. He said to address the impact on families, they have a proposed approach that emphasizes the more extensive zone in the elementary and middle school option.
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