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The Lee County School Board has agreed to pursue the purchase of two different parcels to meet some of the demands of growth in the East Zone.

One of those properties is 173.03 acres at 670 Milwaukee Boulevard in Lehigh Acres, which is the old Mirror Lakes Golf Course.

Operations Planning & Project Management Executive Director Kathie Ebaugh said last Tuesday’s board approval to pursue is an evaluation of what the district needs to do to move into the next step. The approval to pursue will be brought before several committees for input.

“If we were to pursue the actual purchase, we will bring it back to you. To pursue the next steps of the property purchase does not mean we will ultimately approve any property purchases,” she said.

The estimated expenditure — up to $2,245,000 –will be funded with budgeted impact fees and other capital funds.

According to district documents, the Milwaukee Boulevard land would be used for the future growth, portable replacement and the need for the expansion/annexation for the Fort Myers Technical College.

There are three options the district can look into, which includes the purchase of the eastern 81.47 acres for $1,200,000; purchase of the western 91.42 acres for 1,000,000 or purchase the entire property for $2,100,000.

The other approved pursue-the-purchase site is at 17250 S.R. 82 with an estimated expenditure of up to $3,095,000 for 183 acres. If purchased, it will meet the needs of future growth and replacement of portables in Lehigh Acres.

The final piece of property is a 2.2-acre parcel on Taylor Lane, adjacent to G. Weaver Hipps Elementary School, which was approved-to-purchase with an estimated expenditure of up to $339,758.

This purchase is for the expansion of G. Weaver Hipps Elementary School for a future Pre-K Center for Lehigh Acres.