Lee schools budget to top $1.5 billion

Lee County Schools' spending will top $1.5 billion for the first time, according to budget estimates released today.

School Board members got their first look at the fiscal 2007 budget, which district analysts project will total $1.56 billion in all, up from $1.3 billion last year. The money will pay to educate the nearly 80,000 students expected to throng local schools on Aug. 8, making Lee one of the state's fastest-growing districts.

Half the budget, or $717 million, is designated to tackle that growth head-on, spurred in part by a $100 million boost from the state. Known as the capital budget, the money is intended only for infrastructure projects, mostly going toward building new facilities.

When school resumes this fall, the district will open one new elementary school, one new middle school and 17 additions to existing elementary schools. During the year, three elementary schools, two transportation facilities and the permanent home of East Lee County High School will also be under construction. And the district headquarters, a $50 million project, will have administrators moving into the renovated Metro Mall in May 2007.

Although administrators are preparing for the possibility that growth may slow - though not stop - Lee Superintendent James Browder said the budget reflects that the district is still playing catch-up. He pointed out that there are still 400 portable classrooms county-wide.

"We've never in the history of this district had enough seats for the children that are here," he told board members today.