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Irma affecting standardized testing dates for Lee schools

Posted at 10:42 PM, Oct 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-19 22:42:06-04

With 12 days of school lost because of Hurricane Irma, the Lee County School District is asking state officials to move back the dates for standardized testing, so students don't have to cram.

"If they can't give us that flexibility, in terms of the testing window, we would like them to hold us harmless, in terms of school grades for this year, and we would also like to hold the students harmless," said District 3 school board member Chris Patricca.

Patricca wants to make sure students aren't held back a grade because they didn't have time to study.

"We have requested several waivers surrounding flexibility with regard to testing dates and the outcome, the outcome those test scores will have on the district."

The district has more students now than it did at the start of the school year due to Hurricanes Maria and Harvey.

28 students from Puerto Rico started classes in Lee County this month, increasing education costs.

"There is a possibility that we could get a special appropriations bill from the federal government, to cover the costs of those students," said Patricca.

Even though classes have been back in session for weeks, students are still hurting from the storm.

"We continue as a district and individual schools continue to identify students who are in need in their homes, we continue to gather goods like clothing, backpacks, school supplies."

On Friday, Rep. Francis Rooney will honor Lee County staff and teachers who helped out in the schools when they were turned into shelters during Irma.