Lee County parents and advocates prepare to protest school budget cuts

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Parents and community members in Lee County are planning a demonstration at the school district headquarters Wednesday, April 29, to protest budget cuts affecting schools and programs.

India Palencia, a Fort Myers resident and school board candidate, said the decision to organize the protest was driven by concerns about the impacts of the district’s financial plans.

"We decided that maybe we need to make the broader community understand what's happening," she said.

Palencia said she hopes parents and teachers will make their voices heard at the demonstration, which she helped organize.

"We have to make sure that every single penny of the taxpayer money is going to benefit our classrooms, it's going to benefit our students," Palencia said.

This protest follows a demonstration last week in downtown Fort Myers, where parents gathered to support arts programs at Edison Park Elementary School amid the budget cuts.

Stephanie Pavliscak, part of the National Organization for Women Lee County, shared her concerns about the district’s financial transparency as NOW plans to show up in support.

"I think it's important because what we're witnessing here, I think they're hiding where they're saving money and where they're not," Pavliscak said.

The Lee County School District took to social media this week, saying in part, "We hear you, and we want you to know: our programs will remain. The delivery model may evolve as we make sure every school is staffed in a way that reflects the students."

"Although they're saying they hear us, I don't think that they do. They might hear the noise. They're not listening. Although they're saying our programs are staying intact, they're 100% gutting the funding for those programs," Palencia said. "You know, it's empty promises until we see the plan in place. If you have a great plan, you share it."

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