Schools & Kids
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 · North Fort Myers
Six Lee County seniors win National Merit Scholarships
Six Lee County high school seniors won National Merit Scholarships worth $500 to $2,000 annually. Three Dunbar High students and one from Gateway High received college-sponsored awards, while two others won $2,500 scholarships to Harvard and Georgetown.
UF offers dual enrollment to Lee County high schoolers
Lee County high schoolers can now take free University of Florida courses for college credit. Sixty-eight students have already signed up for the program launching in August.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
UF offers free dual-enrollment courses to Lee County high schoolers
Lee County high school juniors and seniors can now take free University of Florida courses for college credit through a new dual-enrollment partnership that begins in August.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Lee County Schools Hit 98% On-Time Bus Arrivals After Staggered Start Times
Lee County Schools achieved a 98% on-time bus arrival rate during the 2025-2026 school year, up 15 percentage points, by staggering start times across three tiers and optimizing routes.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
North Fort Myers High volunteer logs 8,500 hours, wins state award
Jimey Moad received Florida's 2025-2026 Outstanding School Volunteer Award after logging 8,500 hours with North Fort Myers High's band program since 2016.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
North Fort Myers volunteer logs 8,500 hours supporting band program
Jimey Moad, a North Fort Myers High School band program volunteer, received Florida's Outstanding School Volunteer Award after logging 8,500 hours since 2016.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
ECS Baseball Coach Derrik Lutz, Jackson Perkins Win FACA State Awards
Derrik Lutz and Jackson Perkins earned Florida Athletic Coaches Association state honors after leading Evangelical Christian School to a 23-3 record and a top-five 1A ranking.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
UF Eyes $500M Engineering Boom to Tackle Florida Tech Shortage
The University of Florida is pushing for $500 million in state funding to expand engineering facilities, aiming to supercharge STEM education amid Florida's booming tech sector. The proposal targets workforce gaps in high-demand fields like data science and advanced manufacturing. With Gainesville at the epicenter, UF's multibillion-dollar building spree could reshape the state's innovation landscape.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Florida Senate OKs Bill Capping Teacher Tenure at 4 Years
In a bold move to elevate classroom performance, the Florida Senate has passed legislation limiting teacher tenure to just four years while mandating merit-based evaluations. The measure, aimed at statewide public school gains, reignites a decade-old debate on accountability versus job security. Backed by GOP leaders, it heads to the House amid teacher union pushback.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026