Sanibel Elementary School Expansion Project Sanibel Elementary School Expansion Project
Sanibel Elementary School is located on Sanibel-Captiva Road on Sanibel Island, Florida, a barrier island on the west coast of Florida. Our school is a blue ribbon school providing a rich education to children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Our geographic location makes travel to and from the mainland cumbersome, particularly in the winter. For years, the citizens of Sanibel have hoped for a middle school on the island to allow our kids to spend more time learning and participating in after school activities instead of in transport to and from the mainland. In March of 1998, a sub-committee of the Sanibel School Advisory Council (SAC) was formed to pursue this goal with the county. In late September, 1998 the school board gave their unanimous support for the project.
 | Presentation - September 22, 1998 Lee County School Board Briefing Meeting |
| Proposal - copy of proposal |
| Current Progress - See what we have done and what we have left to do. |
| FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions |
| Contact Information - the way to reach citizens, board members, and county staff. |
| Maps of Middle Schools in Lee County - Middle school locations |
Thank you!!
September 29, 1998
Sanibel is a unique island. Its geography is one aspect of that, but the people here are really why it is such a special place to call home. From Santa delivering presents to kids by fire truck to our hometown 4th of July parade, families are made to feel welcome and a part of things here, and this adds to the balance of the community.Over the past 8 months, I have been working with a group of people on expanding the elementary school to include grades 6, 7, and 8. In all of our meetings with the various county folks throughout this process, we have told them that Sanibel is different. Tuesday, September 22 was the culmination of our efforts, with a presentation to the Lee County School Board, where over 150 Sanibel parents, grandparents, community members, and city council candidates and members came to hear the presentation and show their support. Looking into the filled room, the School Board understood what we meant about being different. The community supports the school and recognizes that it will be a continuation of the academic excellence that our younger students now pursue. The School Board acknowledged this and gave its full support to our expansion plans.
I wanted to thank the efforts of many people who helped Tuesday’s meeting have such a positive outcome. When we had meetings at the school to discuss our progress, Monica Albert provided childcare so that parents could attend and focus on the meetings. For Tuesday’s daytime meeting downtown, the pre-schools on the island stayed open to accommodate parents coming back late. Alicia Galante and Marge Nordsworthy coordinated transportation efforts and after school care at the elementary school, and the staff at Sanibel Elementary ensured that all the kids knew where to go and had activities for them. Barbara Von Harten, Sanibel Elementary principal, supported the concept from inception and successfully carried the proposal through various meetings and groups. Patricia Riley, our Lee County School Board representative, offered valuable insight into the process of the unique school proposal and helped us move along in the right direction. In addition, the superintendent Dr. Bruce Harter got all the necessary people in a room together to discuss the project and come to mutual agreement on its scope and viability. And most importantly, thanks to the community: the parents, some who took time off work to come downtown; community members who are not stakeholders but felt compelled to show their support by attending as well. Your participation was a vital part of our message.
Thanks to everyone who envisioned this expansion in years past and put their energies over the past year into making it happen!
-Jacque Owens and The SAC Sub-committee for K-8 Expansion