WEEk Of MAY 22, 2024
VOLuME 62, NuMBER 27
Island students to perform ‘Mary Poppins JR’ By TIFFANY REPECKI
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trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
he Sanibel School is presenting its Performing Arts production and the public is invited to attend. This year's annual show will take place today, May 22, and May 23-24 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafetorium, and it will feature “Mary Poppins JR.” Each performance will also include a different opening act. Music Department Director Joey Giangreco explained that Performing Arts is a middleschool elective class for students in sixth through eighth grade. The youths put together one show each school year. “Every year, our Performing Arts class works to put on a musical proWhat “Mary Poppins JR” duction,” he said. Past shows have When included “Beauty Today, May 22, and the Beast,” and May 23-24 “Aladdin,” at 6:30 p.m. “Frozen” and “The Little Mermaid.” Where “'Mary Poppins' The Sanibel is such a classic School, show. It's one that 3840 Sanibelall ages can enjoy,” Captiva Road, Giangreco said, Sanibel adding that he had intended for it to be Details the production for Tickets are $10 the 2021-22 school for adults and year, but it was can$5 for students celed due to the pandemic. “It has always been a show that I wanted to bring back.” With the cast and this year's class, he felt that the show was a great fit for the students.
If you go
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City’s annual storm seminar to feature panel of local experts The city of Sanibel will hold its annual Hurricane Seminar on May 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at BIG ARTS on Sanibel. The informative event will feature a panel of speakers who will share with residents, business owners and island workers the city's plan for the upcoming storm season, as well as discuss family emergency planning, special needs issues, post-storm recovery plans and more. This year's featured speakers include: ∫ Sanibel and Fire Rescue District Fire Chief Kevin Barbot ∫ F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva Senior Services Director Erika Broyles ∫ Sanibel Police Department Police See STORM SEMINAR, page 18
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See MARY POPPINS JR, page 18
School board looks again at student cell phone policies By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
The Lee County School Board continues to wrangle with how to deal with student cells phones. According to board policy 5136 — wireless communication devices — principals have the authority to designate times and locations where these types of devices may be used on campus and teachers designate where they can be stored during instructional time, such as book bags and containers. District staff said next year electronic devices will be their main focus, first with
input from principals. Conversations then will continue with all other stakeholders. Board Member Armor Persons asked at a recent meeting why they should wait another year to implement change to the student code of conduct. “As a board, in my opinion, we should change that this year for next year to have phones in backpacks in the off position from first bell to last bell,” he said. Although there was no consensus to implement this for next school year, there was an agreement to bring back the topic for
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more discussion. Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage said he has heard the significant concern of how the devices are being used and the lack of consistency throughout the schools. They can look into how to implement the policy, but don’t want to rush. “I have no objection to eliminating them from bell to bell,” Board Member Cathleen Morgan said. “I do believe the path they are suggesting is the best way to go. I think we need school leadership, families and stu-
Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll.........................................4 Captiva Current..........................6-7 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living................................14 Sports.........................................16
See CELL PHONE POLICIES, page 18
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