Continued disagreement over a baseball field improvement project by the school district at Islamorada’s Founders Park highlighted the April 7 school board meeting in Key West.
School board attorney Dirk Smits acknowledged that negotiations were “stalled” with the village over the $5 million-plus in upgrades to Founders Park baseball field.
“We can just keep plugging away if the board wants, or we can come up with a plan B. I don’t know which one is going to be your preference. We have been back and forth quite a bit,” he said.
Smits said that while there have been extensive discussions, the most recent proposal still contains several “deal breakers” for both sides, leaving six or seven major issues unresolved.
The fundamental difference is the village owns the field while the school board will pay for the upgrades — and each wants a large degree of control. Board members received a written report just before the meeting.
A day before the meeting, Superintendent Ed Tierney told Keys Weekly the district is working hard with the village to try and get a deal done.
“It’s a complex needle to thread. One entity is putting up money and the other entity has the land,” he said. “We want to get to where the language is palpable for both sides.”
The outcome will dictate whether the community can finally move forward with the village council’s proposal or if the school board must pivot to an alternative strategy for the Coral Shores High School baseball team. As of now, the 2026 baseball season will be played on the existing grass field.
Pat Lefere, school district executive director of operations, provided a live view of the Rex Weech athletic facility in Key West. The training center structure is essentially complete and stucco work has begun on the concession and museum building. The project remains on track for completion by Sept. 30. Board members expressed concerns about physical security for students when the museum is open to the public during games, a matter the district office will address as operations are finalized.
The school board also honored several community “Great Moments in Education” and received updates on infrastructure and employee benefits. The meeting started with the GEMS recognition of George Fernandez, a well-known businessman and philanthropist, for his commitment to bringing the arts to the Keys. Through his support, nearly 4,000 students experienced live performances this season, including “Jazz at Lincoln Center” and “Puppy Pals.”
Key West High School sophomore Zaylee Hayes was recognized for her courage and quick thinking. When a teacher suffered a medical distress, Hayes immediately sought help, an act that likely saved a life.
Junior Allens Alexander was celebrated for a stellar wrestling season. With a 37-7 record, Alexander earned a silver medal at the state tournament, becoming only the 14th state finalist in school history. Coach Jerry Harbin received a GEM award for his seven years of volunteer service to the Sugarloaf Lady Sharks volleyball program, which recently captured the Conch Cup with only one loss this season.
Following the surprise exit of Illinois-based Optavise from the employee benefits management business, the district conducted a search and announced a recommendation to move to a Tallahassee company, FBMC Benefits Management Inc. Charlene White, executive director of finance, noted that FBMC’s established relationship with the Florida Retirement System (FRS) will streamline processes for retirees, particularly regarding dental and vision insurance payments.
— Jim McCarthy contributed to the report.
