Volunteers gather to help prepare Franklin Park Elementary for new school year

Franklin Park Elementary has been embedded in Dunbar’s history as the school is rebuilt for the upcoming 2024-2025 session after it closed down in Dec. 2022.

Volunteers gathered on Thursday to help finish preparations for the Aug. 12 school year after the Lee County School District finalizes its long-standing promise to voters following the approval of the half-cent sales tax.

• RELATED: Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars

Volunteers were primed to assemble the newly arrived furniture for the school building and assemble “First-Day” packets.

The elementary school first opened as an all-black institution in 1958, when schools were still segregated in Lee County.

After Hurricane Ian, The Lee County School District created the Greater Dunbar Initiative, which planned to rebuild rather than modernize the school after being heavily damaged by the storm.

Some of the new additions include a bigger cafeteria, classrooms, playgrounds, and a new partnership.

“We are a community partnership school, which we partner with United Way, Florida Gulf Coast, Lee Health, and what they do here is that they assist us with education,” said Dr. Mia German, principal. “If there’s barriers, whether it’s uniform, whether it’s bringing in people to help read to kids, all of those things, all of the comprehensive wraparound services that they help so our kids have a better chance at being the best they can be.”

And to be the best also means having a full-service facility to support it.

“We have an opportunity for a food pantry for clothing for all of our United Way 211 services, and what’s unique about Franklin Park School is that we now have a relationship and a partnership with Lee Health to have a clinic here on sites,” said Karen Turcotte, Chief Development Officer with United Way.

A school that just about has it all, with the people and some alumni to support it.

“It’s been a while, and I love everything that they’ve done with the school. It looks amazing, so I’m excited for the kids coming in this year,” said Chardae Edison, partner with LCEC and Franklin Park alumna.

A year sure to be a great one for The Panthers.

“We cannot wait to see the smiles of our kids on the first day of school, Panther Nation. Let’s go!” German said.

The Panthers’ first day of school is August 12. On August 8, parents and incoming students will meet the teachers and staff.

The project is estimated to have cost roughly $53 million.