Search for new school location points to Bonita Springs

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – The Lee County School District has narrowed down its selection for a new high school to two locations in Bonita Springs.

When the district will make its final decision is unknown, but for now, it is considering one site off Imperial Parkway north of the Hawthorne community. The other site under consideration is east of Interstate-75 near the intersection of Bonita Beach Road and Bonita Grande Drive.

Multiple sites have been on the district’s radar, but residents nearby complained or environmental concerns arose. Bonita Springs Council Member Peter Simmons said he has heeded the feedback about the school’s location.

“You want it in an area that’s strategic,” Simmons said. “It’s important to think about how are our children going to get there. Are they going to walk are they going to bus? How are they going to get there? So all of these quote, un-quote ‘road blocks’ are for good reason.”

Other school district officials lauded the educational programs the new school will offer to local children and Simmons said he is pleased about bringing its potential to Bonita Springs.

“(They are) two great locations and the overriding theme here is that a high school is going to be coming to Bonita Springs. Everybody wants a hometown team to root for and everyone wants a hometown high school,” Simmons said.