FORT MYERS, Fla. — 13 schools in Lee County open on Monday for the first time since Hurricane Ian. Those that suffered little to no damage were those placed on the fast-track to reopening and include:
- Bonita Springs Elementary
- Bonita Springs Middle
- Colonial Elementary
- Diplomat Elementary
- Franklin Park Elementary
- Gulf Elementary
- Fort Myers Middle
- Orange River Elementary
- Orangewood Elementary
- Three Oaks Elementary
- Tice Elementary
- Trafalgar Elementary School
- Tropic Isles Elementary School
Another 16 campuses, including Lee Virtual School, will reopen Tuesday, October 18:
- Allen Park Elementary
- Buckingham Exceptional Center
- Cypress Lake High
- Edison Park Elementary
- Hancock Creek Elementary
- Ida S. Baker High
- J. Colin English Elementary
- James Stephens Elementary
- Lee Virtual School
- Littleton Elementary
- Manatee Elementary
- Pinewoods Elementary
- Royal Palm Exceptional Center
- Tanglewood Elementary
- Three Oaks Middle
- Villas Elementary
Starting classes on Wednesday, October 19 are:
- The Alva School
- Bayshore Elementary
- Bonita Springs High School
- Caloosa Elementary
- Cape Elementary
- Cape Coral High
- Cape Coral Technical College
- Challenger Middle
- Cypress Lake Middle School
- Dunbar Community School
- Dunbar High
- East Lee County High
- Edgewood Elementary
- Estero High School
- Fort Myers High School
- Fort Myers Technical College
- G. Weaver Hipps Elementary
- Gateway Elementary
- Gateway High School
- Harns Marsh Elementary
- Harns Marsh Middle
- Island Coast High
- Lehigh Acres Middle
- Lehigh Elementary
- Lehigh Senior High
- Mariner High
- Mariner Middle
- Mirror Lakes Elementary
- North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts
- Oak Hammock Middle
- Patriot Elementary
- Pelican Elementary
- Ray V. Pottorf Elementary
- Rayma Page Elementary
- River Hall Elementary
- Riverdale High
- San Carlos Park Elementary
- South Fort Myers High
- Southwest Florida Public Service Academy
- Spring Creek Elementary
- Success Academy
- Sunshine Elementary
- Tortuga Preserve Elementary
- Trafalgar Middle School
- Treeline Elementary
- Varsity Lakes Middle
- Veterans Park Academy for the Arts
Starting classes on Thursday, October 20 are the following schools, which will be held at partner school San Carlos Park Elementary:
- Fort Myers Beach Elementary
- The Sanibel School
The following schools have been cleared to reopen to students on Thursday, October 20, 2022:
- Caloosa Middle
- Heights Elementary
- North Fort Myers High
The following schools have been cleared to reopen to students on Friday, October 21, 2022:
- Skyline Elementary
- Hector A. Cafferata, Jr. Elementary***
(Note: K-2 students will be hosted at Hancock Creek Elementary/3-5 students will be hosted at Pelican Elementary)
Nine criteria were set by the School District to safely open a school. All nine must be met before a campus is cleared to open.
- Reliable power
- Potable water
- Professional assessment
- Leak secure
- Working air conditioning
- Functioning fire alarm and intercom
- Indoor air quality
- Debris cleaned up
- Ability to serve food
Superintendent Christopher Bernier said the biggest obstacle to reopening schools has been air quality tests.
“Samples have been sent to the lab for every school that is able to open and we are awaiting the results," Bernier said in a video message. “Just like you, I want those results back as soon as possible, but I also will not decide to open a school until we have documented that the air inside is safe."
The AP contributed to this report.
