Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoonStudents react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Gwyn Gittens said photos of the outside of portable buildings at an undisclosed school bring her pain that students have to go to school in these conditions. (Photos shared by Gwyn Gittens) The School District of Lee County has responded to a board member’s claims that students are learning in dangerous conditions. WINK News first showed you on Wednesday some exclusive photos from Gwyn Gittens. The photos show rusty doors and chipped cinder blocks holding up portable classrooms. Gittens would not disclose the school these photos were taken at but said these conditions are unacceptable. The district responded Thursday, with spokesman Rob Spicker saying students most definitely do not go to school in dangerous conditions. “The portables in the photographs are all from one campus, and they were inspected by a state-certified fire inspector in January,” he said. Spicker said that’s when the district made a plan to fix the portables that had problems, but that fix hasn’t happened yet. The work will be done after school lets out for the summer. “Had there been any life-threatening hazards, the inspector would have immediately shut down the use of those portables,” Spicker explained. WINK News asked Spicker, “Should parents be concerned that below a life-threatening threshold, there could be any danger to their students learning in those portables?” “No, our portables are inspected every year by the state fire inspector,” he replied. “And if they were to determine that those portables were not in use, we would shut them down.” Gittens doesn’t buy it. In a phone call Thursday, she told WINK News the photos she shared speak for themselves, loud and clear. Debbie Jordan, school board chair, said she’s disappointed and frustrated that Gittens came to WINK News with the photos instead of the district. Gittens said she tried to call a special meeting weeks ago to address a number of her concerns and she was voted down. “She did ask for a special meeting, and based on not having information on what the special meeting was about, that meeting did not happen,” Jordan said. “I keep hearing about not being able to take care of the students. This right here is taking us away from what we need to be doing.” Jordan and the district directed WINK News to a May 2020 document that shows the board, including Gittens, approved inspection reports 7-0. On Wednesday, Gittens told WINK News she hadn’t seen the inspection reports. The district and Jordan referred WINK to a May 19 document in which the board approved building and portable inspections unanimously 7-0. When asked about that document in her phone call Thursday with WINK News, Gittens acknowledged she did in fact vote for approval of the reports. She said, however, that repairs were supposed to begin in January, not in June. And to that point, she reiterated that the photos should speak for themselves.