WEEK OF FEBRUARY 28, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 15
School district presents early budget to board By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.coma
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
The Franklin Lock (S-79) on Feb. 21.
SCCF: Lake O releases threaten estuarine life On Feb. 17, faced with large amounts of projected rainfall, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began releasing water from Lake Okeechobee. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the releases were deemed necessary due to the elevated height of the lake — which had reached over 16.3 feet — and the risk of the lake continuing to rise with the start of the wet season. “Normally, winter is the dry season in South Florida, a time that water managers are able to lower the lake by
sending water south into the Everglades Lake Okeechobee flows take about seven days to reach the Agricultural Area, and mouth of the Caloosahatchee, so the recent increased flows through the natural have been due to basin runoff. Water clarity and color processes of evapo- depends on many factors. transpiration,” SCCF rose dangerously high. Caloosahatchee Estuary and Environmental Policy “While we understand the 1,800 cfs east to the St. Lucie Director Matt DePaolis said. lake needs to be lowered, care Estuary. It also decided to “But this year, as projected, must be taken to not sacrifice “pulse” the water out of lake, an El Niño brought large the northern estuaries,” he which means the Corps aims amounts of rainfall that pre- said. to average 4,000 cfs over 14 vented the usual dry season As of Feb. 17, the Corps days, starting with releases of drawdown.” was releasing the maximum 6,500 cfs and tapering them The SCCF reported that flows from the lake possible down to zero for a period of despite repeated requests under LORS08 — the current four days. from it and other advocates to release management schedule “This is the announcement try to bring down the lake ear- — which is an average of we were afraid we were going lier in the season, releases 4,000 cubic feet per second See LAKE O were withheld, and the lake (cfs) west to the RELEASES, page 18
A preliminary 2024-25 fiscal year budget for the School District of Lee County was discussed at a workshop on Feb. 21. The working document currently does not include the same full-time equivalent student enrollment numbers as the state. Budget Director Kelly Letcher said the state has not come to a final decision yet regarding full-time equivalent student enrollment. The district is recommending 107,642 for FTE, a 3.88% growth over the third calculation of this year, which is 4,016 students. “Currently we have seen this year’s growth of 3,576 students,” she said, adding it is a 3.57% increase. “We do expect that to continue to grow.” The largest increase the district is lookSee EARLY BUDGET, page 18
IslanderInsIde
School district nearing adoption phase for new textbooks By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
The School District of Lee County has revised its process for textbook adoptions to align with the state releasing its short, vetted list. At a recent school board meeting, High School Secondary Curriculum & Instruction Director Candace Allevato said the district purposely held off a year, so they could take the full year to review the materials for social studies textbooks. “We would go through our adoption cycle at the same time the state does to
purchase,” she said. “We waited until the state gave a fully vetted list — the state released list. That is a shift from how we have typically done business.” The same process will be done for science textbook adoption. “We will hold until the state comes out with a short list and next year we will adopt science,” Allevato said. She said the public now has the chance to review the materials as well, which is available on the district’s website at https://www.leeschools.net/. “On March 5 we have a public hearing
only to receive comments — any feedback on the materials which are being recommended from the committee,” she said. The school board will then vote on the adoption of the social studies instructional material on March 26, followed by objection form on March 27, which is open for 30 days. If there are no objections, they will begin ordering materials on April 25 before the school year is over. Allevato said teachers like to have the material in hand before the summer, so they can start to plan. See NEW TEXTBOOKS, page 18
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