Lee County high school graduations set for June
The lease agreements for four facilities were approved Tuesday night, setting the stage for 2021 graduation ceremonies, which will take place in person this June.
As discussed as the School Board of Lee County meeting, the schedule is as follows:
Luminary Hotel, Saturday, June 5
• 10 a.m. Lee Virtual School
• 2:30 p.m. Adult and Career Educa-tion
Alico Arena at Florida Gulf Coast University, Saturday, June 5
• 10 a.m. Ida Baker High School
• 2:30 p.m. Island Coast High School
• 7 p.m. East Lee County High School
Suncoast Arena at Florida SouthWestern State College, Saturday, June 5
• 10 a.m. Bonita High School
• 2:30 p.m. Estero High School
• 7 p.m. Cape Coral High School
Hertz Arena, Saturday, June 5
• 10 a.m. Fort Myers High School
• 2:30 p.m. Riverdale High School
• 7 p.m. North Fort Myers High School
Alico Arena at Florida Gulf Coast University, Sunday, June 6
• 2:30 p.m. South Fort Myers High School
• 7 p.m. Cypress Lake High School
Suncoast Arena at Florida SouthWestern State College, Sunday, June 6
• 2:30 p.m. Mariner High School
Hertz Arena, Sunday, June 6
• 2:30 p.m. Lehigh Senior High School
• 7 p.m. Dunbar High School
The facility rentals have an estimated cost of $122,555.85, which is budgeted from the general fund.
At a March meeting, Superintendent Dr. Greg Adkins told the board that there will be two tickets per graduate because of social distancing requirements. He also said graduation ceremonies will be live streamed providing family members the ability to view the graduations.
Other school board items:
• Masks
Adkins said they continue to work with health care professionals regarding masks, as they are not medical professionals. At this point it does appear district staff, teachers and students will continue to wear masks until the end of the school year. The district will continue to evaluate wearing masks over the course of the summer, with the hopes of removing the masks policy soon.
• Navigate 360, LLC. Agreement
The board approved the agreement, which provides certain safety and emergency preparedness and/or threat assessment services for a three-year term. The district has partnered with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Myers Police Department and Cape Coral Police Department to implement Project TASK: Technology and Threat Assessment for Safer Schools and Kids. A Behavior Threat Assessment Model will assist in centralizing security functions through technology to improve detection and response both during and before incidents. District staff said the assessment will be of a person and what level of threat that person presents, which will then be analyzed to reach the appropriate conclusions.
• Policy 9.10, school names
The policy changed verbiage from “should” to “shall” to strengthen the policy, therefore not providing any wiggle room for school names.
Board Attorney Kathy Dupuy-Bruno said the word “shall” mandates the policy and makes it very clear to what can and cannot be done.
“This is the board policy setting a process of how to name a school and clarifying to the public that there is not a lot of wiggle room,” she said.
Board member Cathleen O’Daniel Morgan said it was important that they have strong verbiage under what circumstances things can be named.
• Teacher open investigations
Chief Human Resource Officer Angela Pruitt said when the district opens an investigation that employee is reassigned during the investigation process. Reassignment cannot always happen, as there may not be a spot where the district can place them due to law enforcement involvement, or DCF involvement.
She said there are currently six teachers on paid leave and not at an alternative assignment. Two of those six, Pruitt said, should be resolved this week, two others are waiting for a place to be reassigned and two others involve health, safety and welfare.
“We do put students first, but not at expense of health, safety and welfare of kids,” Pruitt said.
Adkins said in the past any person under investigation was literally suspended with pay at home, which has been changed and has had a substantial cost savings to the district.