Full Exclusive Interview: Lee schools superintendent explains proposed $47M in budget cuts

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

The School District of Lee County is facing a major budget shortfall, with nearly $47 million in proposed cuts under consideration. Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin sat down with Gulf Coast News in an exclusive interview.

Watch the full interview above

District leaders say rising costs and inflation are straining finances, while a decline in student enrollment is reducing the amount of state funding schools receive.

Carlin says the district has lost about 800 students, which directly impacts revenue since Florida funds schools based on enrollment.

That decline comes as families increasingly turn to other education options, including charter schools, private schools, virtual programs and homeschooling.

At the same time, questions have been raised about where those students went and whether other factors may be contributing to the drop.

In a full interview, Carlin addresses the district’s financial challenges, the proposed cuts and what it could mean moving forward.

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