Fort Myers charter school becomes flashpoint in Florida governor race

FORT MYERS, Fla — A soon to open charter school in Fort Myers has become the center of a political debate in Florida's gubernatorial race, with Republican primary candidate James Fishback calling out Congressman Byron Donalds over the Optima Classical Academy.

The school, which broke ground in 2023, was planned to be the fifth classical charter school opened by Erika Donalds, wife of Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds. Hundreds of students enrolled and teachers and staff were hired, but the school hasn't opened, because of what organizers cited as financial challenges and Hurricane Ian.

Optima Academy transferred ownership to another charter operator this year. The new operator plans to open the school next fall.

"Byron Donalds, and his wife Erika, promised these kids the world. And then fell off the face of that same world," Fishback said at a media event in front of the school.

In a statement, the Donalds campaign said, "Erika Donalds is an accomplished businesswoman with a proven record of founding successful charter schools and expanding access to high-quality education for thousands of Florida students."

On Friday, Fishback, a 30-year-old political newcomer who entered the Republican primary for governor last month, stood in front of the school and called for Donalds to be transparent about the school and the taxpayer money it received.

"We just want you to be honest with the families and the kids whose lives were upended by the abandoning of the school. And the ruse and the gaslighting that has ensued," Fishback said.

But the Donalds campaign told Fox 4, the project has been entirely privately funded, with no tax dollars used to date.

In a statement, the campaign said, "The school is set to open and remains in full compliance with its charter agreement with the Lee County School District, allowing the campus to open by 2026."

Meanwhile, Fishback is facing allegations himself. Court records show that in January, a former employee who claimed to have been in a relationship with Fishback while still a minor filed for a protective order against Fishback. The woman claimed Fishback was stalking and harassing her, but a court ultimately denied the request for a protective order.

When asked directly if he had a relationship with a minor, Fishback responded: "No I did not. Completely false. The court completely exonerated me of those accusations."

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