WEEK OF AUGUST 21, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 40
City’s planning commission signs off on new Bailey’s store By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
At its recent meeting, the Sanibel Planning Commission approved two applications to allow for the operation of a new grocery store — owned by Bailey's — at the Rabbit Road Center on Sanibel. On Aug. 13, the commissioners considered the applications to obtain a conditional use permit and development permit for change of use to operate the store at the center, at 975 Rabbit Road, which is located at the intersection of Rabbit and Sanibel-Captiva Road in the General Commercial District. The applications were submitted by Richard Johnson, whose family owns Bailey's General Store on Sanibel and The Island Store on Captiva, for the property owner, Rosalita's Cantina Rabbit Road. According to the applications, A Bit of Bailey's will include groceries, a butcher, seafood, bakery, deli, coffee bar, and beer See PLANNING COMMISSION, page 21
IslanderInsIde
School resumes on islands as students begin new year By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
tudents returned to The Sanibel School on Aug. 12, kicking off the start of their new year.
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“We had a wonderful first day of The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District school. We had a pep rally-style reminded motorists to “Slow Down, welcome back for our students,” School's Back In Session” last week as Principal Jennifer Lusk said, School District of Lee County students explaining that the Sanibel Police returned to class, including at The Sanibel School. SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT See NEW YEAR, page 20
School district to reduce number of assessment tests By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
The School District of Lee County reported that it will test students less this year. “I am so encouraged by knowing that you aren’t taking a step back from assessing, but evolving with the way that education is moving,” Board Member Jada LangfordFleming said at the Aug. 6 briefing
session. Interim Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage said assessments are a critical aspect of how to provide information through the teaching process. It is essential that they always understand what evidence students can give of what they know and understand. “You cannot teach, really, without informing that process,” he said. “In fact, we
engineer our instruction on that students can demonstrate significant evidence.” Savage explained there is a delicate balance between the time it takes to access and the time it takes to help students learn. The district needs to take the time needed to deeply review every assessment it offers to students. This will afford it the opportunity to identify specific assessment paths and find an alternative method, if needed. “It’s essential that teachers and parents understand that every time we assess stuSee SCHOOL DISTRICT, page 21
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