Local students are heading back to school, but for 15 high school juniors and seniors classes are going to be a little different this fall. Stephanie Westendorf has more on a way for high schoolers to speed up graduation.

It’s back to school time for Charlotte and Lee County Public School students. Lee County Superintendent Dr. James Browder joined some of his classes on their first day back Tuesday. Stephanie Westendorf has more.

Dozens of Lee County’s high school principals, teachers and administrators gathered in Fort Myers Wednesday to brush up on what to do in case of an emergency - like a terrorist attack, natural disaster or school shooting…WGCU’s Mike Kiniry was there and has this report…

The school food service is taking applications now for students who need free or reduced meals.
In Charlotte County about 42 percent of public school students qualify for free and reduced meals. The Charlotte School District’s spokesman Michael Riley says at one school in particular almost 80 percent of students qualify. And just getting food to them is not enough.

“There has been a focus recently on health and nutrition with the kids./ They’re trying to find alternatives to get so many of the sweets out of the school and get more nutritious snacks in. Our food service director has worked very hard to comply with federal and state standards and really to provide nutritious meals to the kids. That’s their goal.”

Riley says qualifications for free and reduced meals are based on a federal formula involving the number of children in a household. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals, while those between 130 and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced meals.

Forget all the negative things experts said about Florida’s universal voluntary pre kindergarten program this year – the day was too short, teachers lacked degrees and lessons varied too greatly. Because this summer, it’s everything it’s supposed to be – with certified teachers, small class sizes and an all-day program in public schools. WGCU’s Amy Tardif reports on the first summer version of Florida’s voter-mandated free pre –k.

The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida held a party celebrating the first birthday of the state’s voluntary prekindergarten program last night in Estero. State officials say it was the biggest party like it in Florida. WGCU’s Amy Tardif was there.

Deaf children are learning from dolphins in the Florida Keys this week. It’s part of an effort to encourage expression of feelings and experiences through art, movement and discussion. WGCU’s Amy Tardif has the story.

Last summer, Debbie Johnston’s 15-year old son Jeffrey committed suicide after years of being bullied. The Trafalagar Middle School teacher has been on a crusade to get a law passed that cracks down on bullies and gives educators more tools to stop the abuse and force administrators to punish students who bully others. One bill has sailed through House Committees...but state senators haven’t begun any debate on a companion measure. Governor Jeb Bush supports the effort and met with Johnston last month. She says lawmakers must approve the bill this session.

“It means the world to be. Had it been in place Jeffrey wouldn’t have gone through the two years of torment that he had because it could have been addressed and this student who goes on to bully others is still not getting treatment.”

State lawmakers have only three more weeks to pass legislation before they adjourn in May

Last year, Debbie Johnston’s son committed suicide after years of being bullied and teased by classmates. Johnston has worked with state lawmakers to craft stronger laws on bullying. It would require school districts to punish students who bully others and set state standards on bullying. The measure has sailed through the House...but Johnston says the State Senate hasn’t set a hearing date. She says the bill is needed...and now!

“Kids do better in school when they feel safe. Problems addressed early on cost a lot less to fix then problems that later go on to be a lifelong pattern of abuse.”

Johnston says some lawmakers mistakenly think the anti-bullying bill discriminates against some students.

Governor Jeb Bush says he supports the measure and met with Johnston about it last month.

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