Lee County School District faces backlash for cold weather protocol

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

As temperatures drop in Lee County, the school district has lifted dress codes to prioritize student safety, allowing jeans without holes or rips and jackets with hoods, while attendance remains mandatory.

The Lee County School District released a statement emphasizing that student safety is its number one priority. Parents are advised to wait in their cars with their children until the bus arrives, and principals have been asked to arrive 30 minutes early to accommodate students who are dropped off early.

Some parents have expressed concerns online, questioning whether the district is prioritizing student safety. They worry that some children may not have appropriate winter clothing or a parent available to wait with them at the bus stop.

The Lee County School District told Gulf Coast News that it is following the same protocol as other counties along the Gulf Coast, emphasizing that what happens before students get on the bus and after they get off is ultimately up to the parents.

"So you don't have to just do this by yourself," said Rob Spicker, Lee County School District spokesperson. "We have a school resource center in our building that distributes clothing and necessary supplies to students around the district just about every single day, so we can connect families who need help staying warm to the people who can help them stay warm. The student or the parent simply needs to speak to a school counselor today to help us start to make that connection."

Parents are encouraged to ensure their children layer up as much as possible to stay warm if they do not have a thick winter jacket.

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