The History Behind Bonita Springs Elementary

 

The Bonita Springs School was constructed in 1921 by Harvey Heitmen when the town was still just a small fishing village. The original one-story, brick building had only three rooms and taught grades K-12. It did not have electricity, but to the delight of the students and staff, it did have plumbing. A fence was constructed around the school, as shown in the photos above, to keep the free-ranging cattle that roamed the area off of the property. In 1927, the school expanded by adding a separate, two-story building and auditorium. In 1940, the structures were united. Around 1948, the school added a lunchroom with a kitchen.

Today, Bonita Springs Elementary is the only building on the National Historic Registry. Unfortunately, it will not be there for much longer.

 

“Demolition By Neglect”: How This Historically Preserved Building Was Marked for Demolition

How did this historic building become so irreparable? Community leaders, some of whom would prefer to remain nameless, blame the school district. Simply put, the school district deferred maintenance, allowing the property to fall into disrepair, and now claims it is unsalvageable. Alan Glazier, Chairman of the Bonita Springs Historic Preservation Board, refers to this as “demolition by neglect.”

The historic building has sat vacant since the roof collapsed during Hurricane Irma. The building has been left vacant and uncared for ever since, aside from a paint job in 2022. Termites have also been said to have infested the building without remediation.

The school has operated out of couple of the newer buildings and portable trailers that were put on the property for years.

Though this project has been very controversial, one thing we can all agree on is that our children deserve better.

 

The Future of Bonita Springs Elementary

The school board originally released renderings for their vision of Bonita Springs Elementary, which immediately received backlash from residents, former students, City Council, and the Historic Society of Bonita Springs. The renderings showed a new school with no resemblance to the beautiful, historic school that currently stands. Frankly, it was boring, unexciting, and sterile.

Luckily, the school board listened. They began to understand the importance of the history behind this little school and how much it meant to the people of Bonita Springs. They went back to the drawing board and decided to incorporate the historic front wall into the new design.

“Thank you to our partners at the City of Bonita Springs for their collaboration during this process,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin. “Working together, we found a way to pay tribute to the History of Bonita Springs Elementary School. I am excited about the opportunities that await our students upon completion of the new buildings on this beautiful campus.”

“The City of Bonita Springs thanks the School District of Lee County for its commitment to preserving an important piece of Bonita Springs history,” said Councilman Nigel Fullick. “Many residents have special memories of their time at Bonita Springs Elementary, and it brings some satisfaction to see a cherished piece of our past memorialized and honored. This solution exemplifies the City’s dedication not only to maintaining the rich heritage of Bonita Springs but also to recognizing our responsibility to the future of our children. Together, we can strive to create a legacy that respects our past while nurturing the potential of future generations.”

The renovation and remodeling project at Bonita Springs Elementary will create modern facilities that better serve the children of our community. The Florida Department of Education approved replacing the school’s main building and cafeteria to create new classrooms, administrative offices, a modern media center, and a lunchroom large enough to accommodate student capacity.

Our Take 

Like many long-time residents, Bonita Springs Elementary holds a special place in our hearts. John Paul went to school there, and his mother was a substitute teacher there for decades. We bought our house in Bonita Springs just a block away from the school with the hopes of one day walking our young daughter to the same elementary school that her daddy went to.

We support the growth of Bonita Springs and welcome all of the incredible new businesses that have been flocking to the area. However, we do not want to see this city lose the “small town charm” that is part of its slogan. It is a slippery slope from a small town to an overdeveloped city. Preserving history is a HUGE part of maintaining that charm.

That being said, as parents, especially, we want what is best for our children. Everyone can agree that the children of Bonita Springs Elementary deserve better. The vacant, termite-infested buildings and portable trailers that students are learning in are inexcusable.

We are so happy that the school board listened to the residents of Bonita Springs and recognized the importance of this historic building. City of Bonita Springs and the School Board collaborated in a way that gives our children the best of both worlds. We are excited to have a new-and-improved elementary school for the next generation of “Bonitians.”

 

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