The preliminary budget presented to the School Board of Lee County Wednesday afternoon includes a reduction by two schools in the West Zone — an elementary and high school — over the next 10 years as the district copes with burgeoning growth in east Lee County.

Planning Growth & Capacity Director Adam Molloy said the 10-year student growth projection was finalized and updated in April showing that there will be 115,619 students in traditional K-12 by 2033. He said there has been a compound annual growth rate of 1.16%, about 1,328 students.

“It exceeds our current by 22,082 seats,” Molloy said.

The 10-year student growth:

• Elementary: projected student population in 2033-2034 is 51,626 students, a difference of 10,940

• Middle: projected student population in 2033-2034 is 27,208 students, a difference of 3,634 students

• High: projected student population in 2033-2034 is 36,785 students, a difference of 7,508 students

The current challenge is the district is at 94.3% capacity occupied. He said the available seats are not evenly distributed across the school district and by 2025-2026 school year they will exceed student stations.

Molloy said historically the district has not added student stations at this scale — accommodating 22,082 students in 10 years.

Operations Executive Director Fredrick Ross said to accommodate the growth, the focus of new construction will be in the East Zone across all school levels.

The proposed June 26 Capital Plan includes eight new schools in the East Zone — three elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools and a K-8 innovation school.

The plan also includes the delay of two schools in the West Zone, which includes Cape Coral and parts of North Fort Myers — an elementary and high school.

Molloy said the delay of the West Zone high school is because of the seats available at Island Coast High School.

“Our team took a look at OOO in the West and took a look at the 600 unoccupied seats at Island Coast. The issue out east is much more severe in terms of E2 and E3 seats. It puts us further behind in terms of seats needed,” he said.

Ross said the delay is because they are a lower priority than the proposed new schools at other levels and zones.

The two West Zone schools in the plan are for Hector A Cafferata K-8 school, which will have 1,620 seats for an estimated cost of $124,956,952 and Bayshore K-8, 300 seats for $50,000,000.

Molloy said there will be a deficit of 8,443 student seats as opposed to the Jan. 9 capital plan of a deficit of 3,633 student seats.

The presentation also touched on the budget cuts — $122 million — for maintenance projects for the 10-year capital plan.

Coordinator of Operations Danielle Jensen said there are 945 specific projects that need to be addressed with 54.6% of those, or 516, at the elementary school level. There are 170 projects for middle school, 169 for high school and 90 special center projects.

With the unmet needs of the school improvement maintenance projects, delay in the West Zone elementary and high school there is a total reduction of $423 million, which Chief Financial Officer Dr. Ami Desamours said is significant and continues to compound the current situation.

The school district will also have debt of $1.3 billion in 10 years with the preliminary plan, which is among one of the challenges.

Director of Budget Kelly Letcher said the general fund is the biggest part of their budget with a focus on schools and students. She said they allocated an additional $11 million to the schools with the new allocation formula.

The budget focuses on the whole child — mental wellness, resources for English learners, as well as resources for additional needs and intervention and recapturing the learning loss, while retaining employees.

The general fund is about $1.2 billion — 71%, or $856 million, goes to schools for instruction and direct school expenses. Letcher said that falls within salaries and benefits.

The remaining funds — 12% for operation and maintenance, 8% contingency and reserves, 5% in transportation, 4% in support services and .4% in fee supported programs.

Letcher said they are looking at an estimated $153 billion in tax roll, a $2 billion increase.

“We could be looking at $1.5 million in the general fund,” she said.