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VOLUME 49, NUMBER 21
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Armando Perez
By Paulette LeBlanc
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Armando Perez said he would describe himself as a Pine Islander. He also makes it clear that he’s someone who likes to help people when they’re in need, if he is able. Although he was born at Lee Memorial Hospital, the entire Perez family is from Mexico, which caused him to go with his family, at just 10 years old after having been only here in Southwest Florida up to that point. In
2016, he found his way back, to Pine Island, on a bus with his cousin. “It took us over two days just to get here,” Perez said. Since he was a child, this island has always been the place he considers home and although he often misses his own family, he said there is nowhere else he wants to be. As far his contribution to Pine Island, Perez said in the event that he sees a neighbor who needs him, he is always happy to help that person, such as older folks who might need help with
yardwork or carrying something heavy. Since he’s been asked to join the Beacon of HOPE Board of Directors, he also finds time regularly for board meetings every month while maintaining his full schedule of college classes. In the event that he had to explain what Pine Island is like to someone else, he said, it’s just like paradise. “Not many people know about this place. I like it because it’s quiet and See PEREZ, page 8
Armando Perez
PHOTO PROVIDED
School district, teachers union, reach tentative accord By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Pine Islanders keeping in shape with Pickleball while hoping for new courts By Paulette LeBlanc
S
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
ome of the ball players on Pine Island are eager to stay fit by playing their chosen sport; Pickleball, at the Phillips Park tennis courts every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning from 8 - 10 a.m. Among them, are players like Brittany Fenning, who said she wouldn’t mind having a fundraiser to reline the tennis courts and maybe even put in a Pickle ball net, which is lower than the current tennis nets. Fenning said some of the local players have questioned whether the Parks and Recreation Department might be interested in employing help from some islanders who meet regularly to play.
“If we were to have a fundraiser, can we re-stripe it and can we put in a new net?” Fenning questioned. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the players, the county or anyone else who would care to volunteer to help, Fenning added, explaining that after the damage from Hurricane Ian was assessed, they were told funds would be allocated for a total of four pickle ball courts. ‘I guess the money just needed to go to other places, but we’d really like to re-visit that,” Fenning said. Pickle ball player, Dave Howerton said no matter what See PICKLEBALL, page 10 Some players at the Phillips Park tennis courts. PAULETTE LEBLANC
The School District of Lee County and the Teachers Union of Lee County have reached a tentative contract. The agreement includes salary increases, unprecedented parental leave, changes to the bereavement leave, terminal pay language and 45 additional work minutes per week and a 30-minute lunch, officials said. TALC President Kevin Daly said the increases were based on performance pay of $300 for highly effective and $225 for effective grandfathered, an increased base salary for nine more minutes of work per day – an approximate 2% increase and compression adjustment based on years of credible teaching experience. The increase starts at three to five years at 3%, six to 14 years at 5%, 15 to 20 years at 4.5% and 21 or more years at 3%. A base salary was also established at $54,500 and the base salary for special instructional at $62,500. Daly said other benefits added to the contract include a 45-minute cap on mandatory meetings called by administration, and coverage language for special instructional teachers – one day pay for every five days covered. He said there are also up to four weeks paid by the employer retroactive to July 1 for parental leave and up to three days per incident retroactive to July 1 for bereavement leave. “You would have to take a leave, or use other days. It’s an added benefit,” Board member Debbie Jordan said of the bereavement and parental leave – new to the contract this year. Teachers also will receive nine additional minutes per day for planning time. “We are pleased that we reached an agreement,” Daly said. “As with any negotiations, there are areas where we See SCHOOL DIISTRICT, page 9
INSIDETODAY Athlete of the Week..........13 On the Water......................8 SJCCA Update.................11
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