School Safety

A female paraprofessional in a Lee County school has been arrested on charges of sexual battery on a male student.Fort Myers police reported that the department was alerted to the alleged assault on Sunday.

The Lee County school district is passing out newly-branded stickers for classrooms designated as a Safe Space for students. But, there is something missing from this new batch in the a time of what appears to be never-ending culture wars in Florida. Noticeably absent from the new safe space stickers are the bright burst of colors associated with LGBTQ issues. Also absent are the words, “This is a safe space for ALL including all genders, all orientations.”Instead of rainbow colors, the subdued stickers in shades of blue and orange simply say, SAFE SPACE for all.The district said it will not be telling teachers to remove the rainbow-flag colored Safe Space stickers, but it is merely offering up a secondary sticker should they chose to replace the old ones.

In response to nationwide school shootings and threats to its local schools, the Lee County School Board has approved a $3.2 million to purchase weapons detectors that will roll out for all K-12 public schools when students return for the 2023-2024 year.David Newlan, executive director of Safety, Security and Management for Lee schools, said he spent over a year researching security systems before choosing the portable, battery-operated OPENGATE system.

Multiple incidents this week involving threats at Mariner High School in Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres Middle School prompted a statement by Christopher Bernier, the School District of Lee County's superintendent of schools.

State health officials reported 3,779 new cases of COVID-19, Sunday, increasing the statewide total to 573,416 cases. Aug. 16 marked the lowest single-day increase in cases of the virus so far this month, and marked the first time in August, health officials have reported fewer than 4,000 new cases in a day.The Florida Department of Health also reported 107 new coronavirus-related deaths, yesterday, bringing the statewide death toll to 9,452 fatalities.

As the Lee County School District prepares for the start of the upcoming school year, thinking of ways to keep children safe during and after an emergency…

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Lee County School District has received 206 school threats since the Parkland shooting massacre last…

The Hendry County School Board voted last month to participate in a newly-created Florida program which allows trained employees to carry concealed…

Since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, schools across the state – and nation – are taking a hard look at their…

One of the many marches held over the weekend attracted 2,000 participants in Fort Myers, including two best friends. The Thursday night before the march,…