Last week, CBS News reported on Optima Classical Academy, a charter school in Ft. Myers that has failed to open as planned. The school is part of the classical school network created by Optima Foundation. a 501(c)(3) based in Naples, Florida, founded in 2017 by Erika Donalds, wife of Rep. Byron Donalds (the GOP frontrunner for Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race), to launch and support “schools of choice,” especially classical charter and alternative K–12 schools and related virtual programs, including Optima Academy Online and other OptimaEd initiatives.
Key Findings:
Failed School Opening: The Optima charter school in Fort Myers that enrolled hundreds of students and hired teachers never opened, leaving parents scrambling to find alternative schools for their children at the last minute.
Financial Questions: Between 2020-2023, Donalds’ four charter schools spent roughly 30% of their government funding—about $35 million—on outside firms with ties to Erika Donalds herself, raising concerns about how taxpayer money was being spent.
X Comments
Lieutenant Gov. Jay Collins posted on X: @JayCollinsFL: Deeply concerned about the financial irregularities surrounding Optima Classical Academy. This deserves a thorough examination by law enforcement.
Ericka Donalds responded: @ErikaDonalds: Jay (Collins), I know you’re failing to launch, but this unfounded political attack against me, my team and my schools, simply because you oppose my husband, is beyond reckless. The Lt. Governor of Florida is calling for LAWFARE against me, choosing to team with the liberal media and anti-school choice mob in a pathetic attempt to gain relevance amid his struggles to launch a campaign. This desperate political smear campaign is damaging to the entire school choice movement.
Will Collins Challenge Donalds for GOP Nomination
The Lieutenant Governor has been mentioned as possible gubernatorial candidate since Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him in August. However, Collins has pre-filed to run, and DeSantis hasn’t endorsed his candidacy.
However, that hasn’t stopped the Florida Fighters from sending out mailer to local Republicans about Collins, claiming he has “delivered conservative wins alongside Governor DeSantis.”
What wins?
- Stopped China from buying Florida land
- Expanded 2nd Amendment rights with Constitution Carry
- Enacted universal school choice
- Fought woke agenda
- Supported tough immigration enforcement
These “wins” occurred when Collins served in the Florida Senate, not as lieutenant governor. Next up, Collins says he will eliminate property taxes on homesteads.
Who is Florida Fighter? The Florida Secretary of State has no record of a PAC with that name. Sunbiz has Florida Fighters LLC, which was dissolved in 2017.
- However, Collins formed a Keep Florida Strong PC in August. He had raised no funds as of 9/30/25. (Click on photos to enlarge)
The Role of the Lieutenant Governor
The Florida Constitution creates the office of lieutenant governor and makes the lieutenant governor the first in the line of succession to the governor. If the governor dies, resigns, is impeached and under trial, or is physically or mentally incapacitated, the lieutenant governor either becomes governor (in the case of a vacancy) or acts as governor until the governor can resume office.
Assigned duties
Beyond succession, the Constitution says the lieutenant governor “shall perform such duties pertaining to the office of governor as shall be assigned by the governor, except when otherwise provided by law, and such other duties as may be prescribed by law.” In practice, this means the lieutenant governor’s portfolio is largely defined by the current governor (for example, being put in charge of specific policy areas, councils, or agencies) rather than by a fixed set of powers in the Constitution
Nature of the office in practice
Florida’s 1968 constitutional revision purposely created a relatively weak lieutenant governorship, leaving its substantive functions discretionary. As a result, the office is often described as mainly ceremonial unless or until succession is triggered, with real influence depending on how much responsibility the sitting governor chooses to delegate.
