Parents and Advocacy Group Urge Caution Over Proposed Relocation of Specialized School
At a recent Lee County School Board meeting, School Board Candidate Gisele “GiGi” Gentile, and families of students at Buckingham Exceptional Student Center—alongside advocates from Little Voices of Buckingham—delivered a coordinated appeal urging the school district to reconsider plans to relocate the program.
Little Voices of Buckingham, a parent-led advocacy group, has emerged as a unified voice for families of medically fragile and special needs students. The group is focused on ensuring that decisions impacting these children are made with transparency, inclusion, and a clear understanding of their complex daily needs.
During the meeting, parents described Buckingham as more than a school, calling it a highly specialized environment designed for children with significant medical, behavioral, and developmental challenges. Many students require daily medical care, including seizure management, feeding support, respiratory treatments, and constant supervision. Families emphasized that the current campus is uniquely equipped to meet these needs, with trained staff, accessible facilities, and established routines critical to student health and stability.
Speakers raised concerns that relocating students to Royal Palm Exceptional School Center could compromise safety, medical access, and emotional well-being. They highlighted risks for medically fragile students, including increased exposure to illness, disruptions to feeding and care routines, and potential delays in emergency response. Parents also stressed the importance of privacy and dignity, noting that many students require in-classroom bathrooms, personal care, and structured environments.
Beyond physical health, families warned that changes in environment—even transportation routes—can trigger severe emotional distress, regression, or self-harming behaviors in students with complex needs. Several parents shared personal stories of how stability at Buckingham has allowed their children to thrive after past disruptions.
Advocates clarified that their concerns are not directed at other schools or student populations, but rather at ensuring appropriate placement for all children based on their individual needs. They called for detailed, transparent plans showing how equivalent levels of care, safety, and support would be maintained in any new setting.
The group urged district leaders to pause the relocation process until all questions are fully addressed and to include families in decision-making. Their message, echoed by Little Voices of Buckingham, emphasized that student welfare must remain the top priority.
In closing, an advocate summarized the collective message: the issue is not about resisting change, but ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of the most vulnerable students. He urged district leaders to evaluate the proposal carefully and ensure that any decision is truly appropriate, protective, and workable for the children it will affect.
“Nothing about us, without us.
We are Little Voices of Buckingham.”
