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Board Notes

School Board Notes
Action Meeting - January 13, 2026

Recognitions

The Board recognized:

  • School Nurses Jennifer Barnes, Melissa Wallace, Misty DeSomma, and Yvette Kirgan for successfully completing and passing the Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN) Examination. This is the highest credential available in the field of school nursing.
  • The Mariner High School JROTC Raider Team for winning the Florida State Raider Competition. The 13 member team took 1st Place in the Cross-Country Rescue, widely considered the toughest event, for the second year in a row!
  • The Fort Myers Green Wave Unified Flag Football team for winning their first ever FHSAA Unified Flag Football State Championship. The team capped off their undefeated season with a 38-18 semifinal victory over Lehigh Senior High School, and defeated Gulf High School (Pasco County) 24-12 in the state championship game.

Consent Action Items

The School Board approved:

  • A Service Agreement with EveryDay Labs, Inc. to continue to support student success by preventing student absenteeism, engaging families, and connecting them to district supports.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding with YMCA of Southwest Florida to operate a before and after school program at Tice Elementary.
  • Academic Affiliation Agreement with Embry-Riddle Gaetz Aerospace Institute to provide career dual enrollment and industry certification opportunities for students in the Aerospace Technologies program at Bonita Springs High School, Dunbar High School, and Island Coast High School.
  • Authorizing Accelerated Learning South Lee County Campus, Inc. d/b/a Island Park High School (the "Charter School") to operate a satellite program under its existing Charter at the current YPEP location, with a focus on serving pregnant and parenting youth. The Charter School shall provide educational programming consistent with its approved Charter and service model, as implemented by Second Mile Education, and shall continue services to the current YPEP student population without interruption.
  • Authorizing Coronado High School to operate a satellite program (the “Coronado–Gateway Satellite”) at Gateway High School, for the benefit of students currently enrolled at Gateway or surrounding schools who may benefit from Second Mile’s Dropout Prevention and Credit Recovery Programming.
  • School Bell Times for the 2026-2027 School Year.
  • The 12-Month (255-day) Employee Calendar for School Years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028
  • Waiving the job description requirement for Service Mechanics and Mechanics of a high school diploma/equivalent and waiving the fees for the pre-employment physical, fingerprinting, and CDL license through December 10, 2026.
  • Waiving the job description requirement for School Bus Operators of a high school diploma/equivalent and waiving the fees for the pre-employment physical, fingerprinting, drug testing, and CDL license through December 10, 2026.
  • Funding for the partial replacement of the football fields at Cape Coral High School, East Lee County High School, Island Coast High School, Mariner High School, and North Fort Myers High School.
  • Funding for electrical panel and switchgear upgrades at Gulf Elementary, Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Little Elementary, Pinewoods Elementary, Tanglewood Elementary, Three Oaks Middle, SWFL Public Service Academy, and Success Academy.
  • Funding for repairs on water-based sprinklers, fire hydrants, fire pumps, fire hoses, and backflow systems at Cape Coral High School and all District facilities.
  • Funding for intercom and clock improvements at Manatee Elementary, Patriot Elementary, Pine Island Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, Lehigh Senior High School, Success Academy, Fort Myers Technical College, and Cape Coral Technical College.
  • Funding for elevator modernization at Hancock Creek Elementary, Harns Marsh Elementary, Pelican Elementary, Ray V. Pottorf Elementary, Tanglewood Elementary, Cape Coral High School, and Ida S. Baker High School.
  • Funding for roofing upgrades at Orangewood Elementary, Gulf Middle, and The Sanibel School.

Administrative Appointments

  • Vincent Colaluca, Director, Capital Planning and Maintenance Operations
  • Kristine Calcara, Principal, Manatee Elementary
  • Jenniffer Pierson, Principal, Caloosa Middle School
  • Samantha Fields, Assistant Director, Student Enrollment
  • Marisol Rodriguez, Assistant Director, Payroll
  • Tammy Labelle, Assistant Principal, Success Academy
  • Danielle Pinkerton, Assistant Principal, Cape Coral High School
  • Rhonda Boils, Coordinator, Curriculum and Instruction Innovation
  • Joseph Edwards, Coordinator, Infrastructure Services
  • Cathy Richards, Coordinator, Risk Management and Internal Compliance

Please note that this page is updated after every School Board Action Meeting. For past meeting minutes, agendas and for a complete list of actions taken at the January 13th meeting visit the District’s BoardDocs page.

Our next action meeting is at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Lee County Public Education Center. All meetings are live streamed and available to view at your convenience on the District’s YouTube channel.

Thank you.
The School Board of Lee County