School Reintroduction

School Reintroduction
COVID-19

Student walking down the hallway

PreK-12 Education Pandemic Response Task Force

The purpose of the Local PreK-12 Education Pandemic Response Task Force is to advise the Superintendent on the safe reopening and continued operation of schools during a global pandemic.

Guiding Principles for Re-Opening

  • Equitable Education – Every student should have access to equitable education in order to meet the District’s mission of ensuring students reach their highest personal potentials.
  • Public Health & Safety – The plan to re-open schools must be rooted in sound medical judgement and driven by health metrics so that students, employees and visitors feel safe. as they return.
  • Public Confidence – An effective communications strategy is critical to ensuring public confidence in the re-opening of schools.
  • Fiscal Prudence – The plan should support the highest practicable level of operation while maintaining equitable education and public health and safety.

PreK-12 Education Pandemic Response Task Force Members

  • Betsy Vaughn - School Board Member, School District of Lee County
  • Dr. Mary Beth Saunders - Infectious Disease/Epidemiology, Lee Health
  • Char-nequa Smith (Shay) - Executive Community Health Nursing Director, Florida Department of Health, Lee County
  • Lt. Angel Queipo - Lieutenant, Youth Services Division, Lee County Sheriff’s Office
  • Capt. Jason Fields - Captain, Operations Division Fort Myers Police Department
  • Harlan Parrish - President FineMark National Bank & Trust, Lee County
  • Marshall Bower - President & CEO, Foundation for Lee County Public Schools
  • Marcus Goodson - Executive Director, Lee County Housing Authority
  • Isaac Dozier - Director, Community Development, City of Fort Myers Housing Authority
  • Kevin Daly - President, Teachers Association of Lee County
  • Samantha Hower - Teacher, Mariner High School, School District of Lee County
  • Heather Rodriguez-Wibbles - Teacher, Caloosa Middle School, School District of Lee County
  • Joseph Camputaro -Teacher, The Sanibel School, School District of Lee County
  • Jamie Michael - President, Support Personnel of Lee County
  • Carl Burnside - Principal, Dunbar High School, School District of Lee County
  • Melissa Layner - Principal, Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts, School District of Lee County
  • Scott LeMaster - Principal, Manatee Elementary, School District of Lee County
  • Scott Hertz - President, District Advisory Committee
  • Amy-Jane McWilliam - Parent Representative, West Zone, Elementary, Middle & High school parent
  • Brenda Clark - Parent Representative, West Zone, Elementary & High school parent
  • Angela Haas - Parent Representative, South Zone, Elementary school parent
  • Chrystal Vervaet - Parent Representative, South Zone, Elementary school parent
  • Jacqueline Lineberger - Parent Representative, East Zone, Middle, High school parent
  • Jewelene Harris - Parent Representative, East Zone, Middle, High school parent
  • Brooklyn Gossett - Student, Mariner High School, West Zone
  • Sedona Stewart - Student, Bonita Springs High School, South Zone
  • Yamicil Bermudez - Student, Lehigh Senior High School, East Zone

Objectives

  • Establish a safe reopening plan for PreK - 12 schools and related services
  • Establish school and district operational procedures and protocol within a COVID-19 response
  • Determine supply and resource requirements and cost for implementation
  • Determine an allocation methodology and timeline
  • Develop a comprehensive communication plan for informing the public regarding the reopening of schools, including required CDC, state and local and related guidelines associated with reopening and operation
  • Identify unexpected contingencies (i.e. hurricanes and/or a second wave of COVID)
  • Identify new policies or amendments to policies that may be needed

For questions, concerns, comments or suggestions email ReopeningSchools@leeschools.net

Upcoming Meetings

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District Communication

Update #5 - July 6, 2020

Good evening,

This is a critical week in deciding how students will return to school in August. There are two important meetings taking place and there is a page on our website where you can find official information regarding SDLC’s Reopening plans.

The PreK-12 Education Pandemic Response Task Force is holding an additional meeting on Tuesday, July 7th at 4:00pm. They will reviewing some final recommendations about the start of school. You can watch the meeting live or later at your convenience on the District’s YouTube channel.

District administrators will present a proposed plan for the return to school to the School Board at 1:00pm on Wednesday, July 8th. This meeting will also be broadcast live and available at your convenience on the District’s YouTube channel. The proposal will be a combination of task force recommendations, parent survey results, health department guidelines and community feedback through our dedicated email address.

In addition, the District website is going to be the best place to find official information about the start of school. Please bookmark, save or frequently visit School Reintroduction Page for our latest communications.

We appreciated your continued support and patience as we navigate through this unprecedented experience.

Update #4 - June 30, 2020

Good afternoon parents,

We want to assure you that if you are considering Lee Virtual School as an option for your child in August, you will have ample opportunity to do so. The District has been granted permission to extend the current registration period until July 10th. We will open another registration period from July 13th to August 3rd.

The plan for reopening schools will be presented to the School Board during a workshop at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. It will be live-streamed on the District’s YouTube channel and available for you to watch at your convenience afterwards. The extra time for registering will give you the chance to review the plan and decide if you want your child to return to campus or enroll in Lee Virtual.

Students who do register for Lee Virtual School will commit to at least one full semester. If at the end of that semester you feel comfortable returning your child to school, they will have a place waiting for them at the school they were scheduled to start at in August.

We appreciate your patience and support during these unprecedented times. Stay up to date with the latest information at School Reintroduction web page.

Update #3 - June 11, 2020

Reopening Task Force meetings have begun for the start of school in August. See the meetings and follow the developments at School Reintroduction web page.

Update #2 - June 5, 2020

Good evening,

Please see the attached letter and link below for an End of Year Message from Superintendent Dr. Greg Adkins.

Dr. Greg Adkins End Of Year Memo To Families (English)

Dr. Greg Adkins End Of Year Memo To Families (Spanish)

Dr. Greg Adkins End Of Year Memo To Families (Haitian Creole)

End Of The School Year Message From The Superintendent Video

Update #1 - May 31, 2020

Good evening parents,

The School District of Lee County is preparing for the 2020-2021 school year by seeking parent input on ways to safely reopen. A short, online survey is now available and we encourage you to take a few minutes to answer the questions and share your concerns and ideas with us.

We cannot say with any certainty right now what school will look like when classes resume in August, but your answers to this survey will help us develop a plan that ensures student and staff health and safety.

Thank you for your participation.

School Reintroduction Survey

Past Recordings of Meetings

Reintroduction of Summer Athletics

The School District of Lee County believes it is essential to the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes in grades 9-12 to return to physical activity and build team relationships with their peers and coaches. We will continue to work in collaboration with Governor Ron DeSantis, Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran and the Florida Department of Health to adhere to any and all state orders and/or recommendations.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

A family of viruses that can cause symptoms like the common cold and/or flu virus.