Lee County School Board

Lee virtual office Upon arriving at the location to ask some questions about the program not only Did dawn hang up on us several times but when we got there the VP greeted us with a police officer as if we were a threat. Never in my life have I been so uncomfortable being a black woman. My partner and I were denied help and told to contact the legal department for simple documents to verify dates of enrollment. No one should feel that way in a school trying to get help for a child. There was no empathy or compassion to show they wanted to help from start to finish they treated us with disrespect and this is very concerning that we DROVE 2 hours with the intent of being help and greeted with kindness. It starts with one person being kind and addressing situations like these to prevent fear of walking into a building and feeling the fear and anxiety of not be welcomed. I hear these stories all the time and I never understood until I met Jennifer of what it’s like to be misjudged by my appearance

I had emailed Dr. Ken Savage about a very upsetting incident that happened at Trafalgar Elementary School. On November 4th, 2021, when I went to pick my daughter up from Voyages after-school care close to 6 pm, my daughter walked into the office where I was waiting for her and she was limping. I noticed a goose size egg bump protruding from her tights on her shin. I asked her what happened and she said that she had been pushed by five kids and fell on metal. I asked Mrs. Rachel, the lady that was there calling for the kids to come to the front office, what had happened, if there was an incident report & why weren't her dad or I called and she was very dismissive saying she didn't know what had happened, that the lady Joanne who was in charge of my daughter had already left at 4:00 pm, that there was no incident report made, that my daughter wasn't sent to see the nurse. I was visibly upset and worried so I took my daughter's tights off to see what was going on under the tights and for Mrs. Rachel to see what had happened before we left. I asked her if she could please call Joanne to find out what had happened, since there was no incident report made and since no one there knew what had happened and she said she didn't have her phone number, or any contact information, or any way to get in touch with her. I found that very hard to believe considering she is the Voyages Childcare Director. I couldn't get any answers, all I got was excuses and she acted as if I was a nuisance to her, she kept blowing me off. I let her know that I was going to take my daughter to get medical care and that that was unacceptable to me of no phone call, no incident report, no answers and that I needed a call back from the Principal. The next morning I got a call from the principal, Mrs. Lisa Murphy and her female officer. Right away she was talking very loudly to me, almost yelling telling me shame on me, how they don't have to do an incident report or have to call a parent when their child gets hurt under their care, how I had no right to do what I did, that I should have been arrested and how I will be arrested next time. I got a lot of them washing their hands, minimizing my daughter's injuries, how things were handled by them, more excuses, shifting of blame, telling me how my daughter was a liar, how she was faking and pretending that she was hurt, they both kept talking over me not letting me say a word edgewise, not letting me finish my sentences. She then put her female officer on the phone to raise her voice at me, with further intimidation, saying that that injury could have happened after my daughter left their care, saying how I will be arrested next time. I found that very insulting, like a slap on the face. The way this whole thing was handled was totally wrong, no apologies at all, but instead I was mistreated, intimidated, scolded at, as If I was one of their students, instead of being treated as a concerned, upset parent. I asked to please see where the incident had happened and they refused, told me I had no right to. Principal Murphy telling me that my daughter is a liar, that she was faking and pretending, labeling my daughter as a liar was very wrong of her, which is not good to put labels on kids, especially a Principal. They kept placing the blame on me and my daughter. Honestly, if that is how they treat a parent I can only imagine how they treat an elementary kid. I put my trust in the public school system for my child to be safe. I also pay weekly for Voyages, it is not a free program, which I expect protocols to be followed like incident reports, phone calls...of any injury. I emailed him because I don't think it was right what they did and didn't do and also so that this won't happen to another child or parent. I feared that there would be retribution from the school, the Principal, etc, and I feared of my child being targeted, discriminated on, singled out, having any harm or anything negative come to her, etc. just because I reached out to the Superintendent of the schools.

How in the heck is it ok for year in year out our bussing for our kids is so atrocious and a bus garage who is so rude condescending and uncaring they now just tell u to talk to the school about bus issues. My kids handicap non verbal and they think it's ok to schedule her for a 2+ hour bus ride one way every day before season and traffic. Scheduled. For 4-5 hours a day for a nonverbal child???? U call there to say hey this is child abuse basically and they scoff at u and their mean and rude??? So it's ok for a non verbal child to be on a bus for 4-5 hours a day??? Is she going to Tampa??? The school is 15 mins away maybe 20. I moved across the river from Cape to fort. MOVED. To make their job easier and they still got worse. It's appalling that nothing has been done for YEARS!!!!

It's a place where you can go from heaven to hell, or from hell to heaven, depending on where you land. I've been through several situations, I've been very well attended by wonderful people and the attendants laughed at me and my husband because we were fighting for the best for our children. Today they pretended they didn't understand me and pretended to fix an error in the parent portal just to get rid of me. When I got home and went to the parent portal, nothing was resolved. Avoid being served by a brunette woman with short hair in the corner towards the bathrooms. She is unprofessional and looks at you like you're nothing. Inhumane. As for school, I spent the entire year watching the coach treat my children differently from the other students, very racist behavior. I talked to my husband and he also noticed the difference in the way the coach treated the children. I don't speak English well, but when I talk to someone who has love in their heart, it's much easier to understand. I may not speak the language, but that doesn't mean I don't know what's going on around me.

Dear Members of the Lee County School Board, I am writing to formally express my deep dissatisfaction with the way I have been treated. I have experienced unfair and inappropriate treatment that has caused me significant concern. Despite my efforts to address the situation, I have been advised that the Director of Athletics & Activities does not report to anyone, which raises serious concerns about accountability within the school system. It is disheartening to feel unheard and to be treated in a manner that does not align with the values and standards expected within our school district. I strongly believe that every individual within the school system should be held accountable for their actions and that no one should operate without oversight. I request that the School Board take immediate steps to review this situation and ensure that all individuals, regardless of position, are subject to proper checks and balances. It is essential that there is a clear and effective system in place for addressing grievances and ensuring that concerns are properly handled. I would appreciate a prompt response to my concerns and look forward to hearing what actions will be taken to address this matter.

Freedom of speech. Firing teachers for speaking. Eroding our values and morals under this admin.

Inquirers and parents are very poorly accommodated at the school assignment office. There is an unprofessional security who was yelling at everyone. The wait time without an appointment is over 3 hrs. You are not allowed to enter the building. There are no canopies. Your only option is to wait in the hot sun by the door or in your car. Wish o could have given zero stars rating As a taxpayer, I deserve better service from LCSD.