Satellite Student Enrollment Offices to open Thursday, Friday
Satellite Student Enrollment Offices have been set up in each zone and will be open on Thursday, Oct. 13 and Friday, Oct. 14, as a way to help students who have been displaced due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Cupid-McCoy said many families may find themselves needing to change schools, some across zones, to exercise an option to go to school closer to where they live. There are two locations in the West Zone, Two in the East Zone and three in the South Zone. The School District of Lee County’s zone system, which allows parents to choose among schools within an assigned zone, does not have a north zone.
“We kept our families in mind. These locations identified (are) to assist in areas that are most impacted,”Cupid-McCoy said.
The offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or until the last person in line receives assistance.
Those offices are:
West Zone:
• Cape Coral High School, 2300 Santa Barbara Blvd.
• Island Coast High School, 2125 De Navarra Parkway.
East Zone:
• Lehigh Senior High School, 901 Gunnery Road N.
• Gateway High School, 138200 Griffin Drive.
South Zone:
• Bonita Springs Middle School, 10141 W. Terry St.
• United Way of Lee County, 7273 Concourse Drive.
In addition, the Student Enrollment Office at the Lee County Public Education Center, 2855 Colonial Blvd. will be open.
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said the satellite offices offer families whose schools were affected by Hurricane Ian options such as transferring into a school where the district has space and enrollment available.
“Parents must understand that it is a transfer for one full year, the remainder of the school year. We cannot be bouncing students back and forth,” he said, expressing that it needs to be a very informed decision.
Bernier said that while he does not have a definitive answer, from district staff experience in both the state of Florida and outside of Florida with disasters, populations of people relocate. Prior to Hurricane Ian, the district had more than 100,000 students enrolled, which he anticipates will be significantly less now.
“The state has agreed to a date certain, this district will be funded in a manner to allow us to employ individuals and help support our students,” Bernier said. “We believe right now we do have that space and opportunity to be generous and kind and we will have to look at specifically where they enroll and reach capacity.”
The district plans to open schools that can be re-opened on Monday, Oct. 17.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com