The Miami Herald, December 7, 2008. By Rocio Blanco Garcia. rblanco-garcia@MiamiHerald.com

Key Biscayne Village Manager Genaro ''Chip'' Iglesias did not include a high school in his five-year capital improvement plan -- which upset residents.

Some council members said at their Tuesday meeting that they thought it was too soon to add a project that didn't have an estimated cost.

But residents complained they already have waited too long for the high school they want built on the island.

''Honestly, after 21 years living here I have been puzzled by the fact that years have passed and council members have changed, but there has been a major disregard for our highest priority and that's education,'' said Carlos Nieto, who favors the high school initiative.

``What we need is true commitment and leadership that takes this forward.''

Early this summer, parents and children filled the council chamber on several occasions to talk of the need for a community high school.

The council responded by having consultants start investigating the feasibility of the project.

The consultants, however, have not yet put a price on the school.

''It would be pretty difficult to include that in the plan if we don't have a dollar amount,'' council member Robert Gusman said Tuesday.

Patricia Weinman, who used to sit at the council, did not agree.

Other projects did make the five-year plan, including improvements to the Village Green, a second elevator for the Community Center and a parking garage for Village Hall.

But Angel Martin, chair of the Key Biscayne Education Foundation, was upset that these projects had a higher priority than the high school.

''In the last 12 months it [the high school] has had a lot more visibility in the community than other projects,'' he said.

But Mayor Robert Vernon, thinks projects approved in the past should be the priority of the council.

``We have to make sure that we have money for what has already gone through, been approved and funded.''

Vice Mayor Michael Davey added the absence of the high school in the plan doesn't mean that the project isn't going to get done.

''We're not saying that this is not going to happen because it is not in the list,'' he said.

``As we move forward on this and the council decides to do this, then we will include it.''