Cape Coral High – modeling the district’s future
EnSite expresses its commitment to our public schools in various ways – our involvement as mentors in the Take Stock and STAMP programs, Jon’s position on the board of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, our team for the Take Strides 5k (next weekend!!) and our participation in STEM@Work, for starters. As a business, our particular area of expertise means we have a lot to offer when it comes to enriching the physical plant of our public schools, too.
Since 2009, we have helped integrate greater connectivity, engagement, safety and wellness at multiple schools across Lee County, including Mariner High, Mariner Middle, Gulf Elementary, Tanglewood, Heights Elementary and more. We’re currently excited to be helping Cape High conceptualize a campus enrichment plan to benefit students, staff and the community at large far into the future. Highlights include:
- Reworking the pedestrian circulation to provide a more direct and safer access for students and visitors alike who walk or ride their bikes
- An Art Garden/Plaza at the entrance of the school for display of student and local work
- Recreated wetlands/rain gardens for education, engagement with native ecosystems and the treatment of stormwater runoff
- Some community garden plots to develop a community partnership
- Removal of approximately 50% of the perimeter chain link fence that makes the school uninviting
- Repainting the exterior of the building
- A partnership with Keep Lee County Beautiful to provide some street trees around the perimeter
A more refined plan is in the works as we speak, but we’re too excited to keep this under wraps. The goal is to create a model for the district that addresses a variety of issues and wish list items, including reduced maintenance costs, better community connectivity and collaboration, and increased educational opportunities. We wish our schools were like that when we were kids! But isn’t it our job to provide for the next generation better than what we had for ourselves? Here’s to the future!
