$40 Million Elementary Campus Welcomes Students Today
Bonita Springs, FL · August 25, 2026
Buses are rolling down neighborhood streets early today as local students head into brand-new classrooms. Keep an eye out for updated pedestrian patterns and active flashers during your morning drive.
The Lead
Classrooms at the new $40 million Bonita Springs Elementary facility open to students this morning, marking a major milestone for local education. Funded through the countywide half-penny sales tax, the modern state-of-the-art campus replaces the outdated historic structure with expanded instructional spaces, upgraded security, and dedicated drop-off lanes off Dean Street.
District administrators designed the facility to accommodate growing neighborhood enrollment while preserving the historic aesthetic that anchors the surrounding district. Construction crews wrapped up final safety inspections and site punch lists late last week, allowing teachers to finish setting up learning spaces over the weekend. Drivers along Old 41 should expect lighter morning congestion around campus thanks to the newly reconfigured traffic loops.
Local Pulse
East Terry Street Design Enters Final Phase Engineers are finalizing plans for storm drainage upgrades and a new roundabout at Morton Avenue to reduce crashes.
Hickory Boulevard Roundabout Contract Advances City contractors begin preliminary utility field surveys along the beach corridor ahead of scheduled fall infrastructure improvements.
Today's Outlook
- High 92°F · Low 78°F — Overcast
- Keep hydrated during outdoor errands and enjoy a break from direct afternoon sunlight.
What's On Around Town
Historic Downtown Food Tour Paradise Food Tours, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM Guided walk through local history paired with three regional dish tastings.
Joey Fiato Live The Center Bar (26811 South Bay Dr), 6:00–9:00 PM Free acoustic covers under the open courtyard canopy.
Andy Moreillon Sugarshack Downtown, 6:00–9:00 PM Casual patio seating with live singer-songwriter tunes in the historic district.
Naples: Estuary Art Exhibit Rookery Bay Learning Center, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM Short drive south to view coastal mixed-media works celebrating local wildlife.
Spotlight & Story
- Crossing Guard Bob Miller
- Holding his stop sign at the corner of Old 41 and Dean Street since 2012, Miller greets second-generation elementary students by name every morning. He estimates he has safely guided over 140,000 street crossings through Florida rain and shine.
Bonita Springs Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
Sent with care by MailerDot — your city, every morning.