[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6257008,"mediaKeyId","3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73","parentId",3155129,"title","Hendry County Schools outlines calendar changes, state start-time rule and bus-driver shortages; seeks community feedback","audioSeconds",503,"startMs",3827000,"endMs",4330000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73&start=3827&end=4330","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73/thumbnail_3827000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6257008/Florida/Hendry-County-Schools-outlines-calendar-changes-state-start-time-rule-and-bus-driver-shortages-seeks-community-feedback","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257008-4fcd3167da3f122a1b669133f736124d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770714549&Signature=N-Evoqz4tF56Jhe8~c7KNdlb0Yz7LA7nAWUOk7ZucHP3i2VLqBe0Q2Jd0bNaUiE0VMJxGm9wZCBzTJO1zGEKfiOvIPDJrYIfXxakbrEViaF7ZjysvSqXcVZLuG3~KmZY9wwJ6i3P1d0KlYbBDmzDHzta3C02abEKEItjoXfI2lZ0oXSSiDSqiwHAkZahEIEFYxMfgJaBR2majfuFTtKMZgGtaT1lKiCDpkhnr8pXp0~WQmEd~DXM~uEwcopMIks-sKBWpolPLFmOeaAuizBpt4ChuDF0jhRctTkn-bdD8YVDpXGhgP7qs3TwzyDvN-gS5Gu8ZRjIHgkL7vNW54cehw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hendry County School District","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","Hendry County Schools leaders reviewed proposed calendar adjustments and sought public feedback after explaining a state law change that will require later start times for middle and high schools in the 2026–27 school year. Officials also highlighted an ongoing shortage of school bus drivers as a key factor in scheduling choices.

Superintendent Mike Swindle told the town-hall audience that the Florida Legislature passed a bill that will require middle schools to start no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. beginning in the 2026–27 school year, and said the state has asked districts to engage their communities on whether to keep current schedules or move to the later times. \"What the state of Florida has asked districts to do is... they must engage with the community and get feedback,\" Swindle said.

Swindle and transportation staff said the district is considering a staggered schedule to accommodate transportation routes and extracurricular schedules, noting that many schools currently operate start times that allow shared buses to serve multiple buildings. The district emphasized parent drop-off accommodations at elementary schools, saying drop-off lines will open earlier to help working parents who must get to jobs.

Transportation staffing was raised as a core constraint: district staff said they are actively recruiting bus drivers and that shortages create a “dynamic juggling act” when scheduling multiple school runs. At the meeting staff invited residents to consider the operational and family impacts of later start times before the district finalizes recommendations for the school board.

Discussion vs. decision: District leaders characterized the meeting as a community-input step. No schedule change was adopted at the town hall; staff said they will collect community responses and return recommendations to the board.

Ending: Officials reiterated the open-door policy for questions and encouraged residents to use the survey and advisory-council sign-up to weigh in on calendar and start-time decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hendry County School District Live Stream 2025-04-30","oneSentenceSummary","District officials reviewed proposed calendar adjustments, explained a forthcoming Florida law on later middle- and high-school start times for 2026–27, and said driver shortages factor into scheduling; the district solicited community feedback on start times.","taxTitle","Hendry, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15382,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6257013,"Hendry County to build new high school in LaBelle with 1,500-seat capacity; district aims to open for 2027 school year",164,3230000,3394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73&start=3230&end=3394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73/thumbnail_3230000.jpg","/articles/6257013/Florida/Hendry-County-to-build-new-high-school-in-LaBelle-with-1500-seat-capacity-district-aims-to-open-for-2027-school-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257013-b0e240660f5b15e63d387c9b425cb270/orig.mp4?Expires=1770714549&Signature=WJuoBiHZMqyc8oB48XRx-8ls-ztvsWC9TxMzmA2leQ8QHYL121-0q9j9mQBnVnpH1vZx9yz3Lx1WsDo7bagYoAOjz-7G8SSlljSyLmvDX7qmMXwlFwiAX~fit~rk~ZoLpS-j9k3-kwUN7BDmvsi3mVmYkg2h8ww-Wi7fZFDE3E4QoGmKfaDigfOwoK0YTdy4EHmiEPCaRsYUUlLjH0T8B2Ak7Ny7depQ1Aqle37tVklUt4DFeRP9ClwedwdSTHVLd6xG0jB6M2Plh19FKBxo-VHjyZO1OHlayDcnp1i7JCOzmYUVunIvexLZai2903aaXfX8FRB9s~4AFw~CKhE--w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hendry County Schools officials said the district has state approval and a top ranking to receive special facilities funding to build a new high school in LaBelle, with a planned capacity of roughly 1,500 students and an expected opening in the 2027 school year.

Superintendent Mike Swindle said the district applied to the state facilities program about four years ago, received approval and a number-one ranking, and is now working through permitting, civil engineering and construction-manager selection. \"We are already on schedule for our timeline to be having students there on school year 2027,\" Swindle said.

District staff said the new LaBelle High School will be built on a new Helms Road site and designed to serve as a community hub and a designated hurricane shelter. Officials described the facility as intended to meet the area’s long-term needs; district presenters noted some existing school buildings are decades old, with the newest roughly 26 years old and the oldest dating to the late 1960s.

Why it matters: The project will affect future school footprints, student matriculation patterns and long-term facilities planning while creating temporary construction and permitting tasks the district must manage.

Discussion vs. decision: Officials described completed application steps with the state and ongoing design and permitting work. No construction contracts or final site approvals were voted on at the meeting; staff said permitting and construction management are continuing.

Ending: Staff invited members of the public to view project renderings posted on-site and said updates will be provided as permitting and construction progress.","Hendry County Schools announced it secured state approval and ranking to build a new high school in LaBelle, projected to seat about 1,500 students and serve as a hurricane shelter; officials said construction work is underway with students expected to occupy the building in school year 2027.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6257018,"Hendry County Schools reports gains on state assessments; ties improvements to professional learning and instructional coaching",0,2424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73&start=2424&end=2424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73/thumbnail_2424000.jpg","/articles/6257018/Florida/Hendry-County-Schools-reports-gains-on-state-assessments-ties-improvements-to-professional-learning-and-instructional-coaching","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257018-8b8cafb78428d9c25229c8b28c154ec1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770714549&Signature=csAIsmB8dogcz5mpSWDo3Uz1tHeNxqcZAjgmYWrne6mHHh4z3nuUNUf-s6MAu-UWMgF6aIu8mFRjunPZizxoDHXz7fdngjBlmMpkz6CVQmfu0rr-QbTteTkDruty0beqgmHdfqvo09QWtyomzfzSPuo5UabMVqAn0K8B8AWcibM3CZrpFnoXJlK6MfwBJj7jkrz~Bq0ZMr7X9mqUQyterlkgWf2spkQs9fIPVs1BVmRcHMm99PCQt6ED3P5WDPn69s476cbElx9A51KZYZFbFO7zTBSujYjc~-~6cniGygfUA4hF5PpXd4IE52lphQtW9wivuwcJ-sF8b-9iSesD5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hendry County Schools officials told a town-hall audience that the district has made measurable gains on state assessments and outlined the instructional changes they say contributed to the improvement, including monthly professional learning time, strengthened principal training and classroom instructional walks.

Liz Duncan, director of elementary education, and the district’s director of secondary education, Mr. Sanchez, described inputs behind the gains: additional half-day professional learning days on the calendar, targeted principal development, instructional rounds in classrooms and data-driven teacher collaboration. \"A couple years ago, the district made the decision to incorporate half day professional learning days into the school calendar, and that really was a true game changer for us,\" the presenter said.

Why it matters: The district reported a 2023–24 FAST ELA proficiency rate of 44% with a goal to reach 54%; FAST math proficiency was reported at 47% with a target of 57%. Officials also listed a target to reduce incidents reported to the state school-environment safety reporting system by 10% annually.

District leaders cautioned that comparisons across years are complicated by changes in assessments and standards. Staff noted the statewide shift to more rigorous standards in 2022–23 and said growth occurred despite that transition. The presentation also cited progress on “high school acceleration” — graduates earning AP credit, dual enrollment or industry certifications — with the district tracking toward higher rates over recent years.

Discussion vs. decision: Staff presented methods and outcomes and framed the items as ongoing instructional priorities. No personnel or budgetary decisions were made at the meeting.

Clarifying details: district presenters said the district has added instructional time for teacher development, reworked principal meetings to emphasize instructional leadership rather than operations, and instituted instructional walks in which principals observe classrooms and share feedback across schools.

Ending: Officials said they will continue using professional learning, data review and leadership development as primary levers to raise proficiency rates and invited parents and staff to monitor progress as the strategic plan is finalized.","District leaders credited expanded professional learning days, principal training and instructional walkthroughs with recent gains on state assessments and set proficiency targets for English and math.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6257025,"Hendry County Schools seeks public input on draft strategic plan and starts district advisory council sign-up",2611,1557000,4168000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73&start=1557&end=4168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155129-a746ade78663f20d6eae89cd48353e73/thumbnail_1557000.jpg","/articles/6257025/Florida/Hendry-County-Schools-seeks-public-input-on-draft-strategic-plan-and-starts-district-advisory-council-sign-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257025-b3acfab74db0e7253258337f4586cafb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770714549&Signature=CPF~211ITYr1csPavEGgkLES04DI92EZs1z6YFJ46N0W5DaGzbhD85zyFRRqlMKwsYvmildNydwvOIMa2jE3Kpc1u0LutZ3QfEzlgXd4zNy9HG75sbFd16ITW1l8rPydghTH6rsIJwkcT5YwH3yZLNqy7YkyfJc1Ric9-kPlvDoDW27Wy4aVRwP~GwtdYMcPkVct~u5Jof16x53fACU5WfFomZ5BY-yCTk-JkFw6MjQXGhCPLJEzB61nfGOrQ0VlBSd68FIrZDQsNP6670Ff7cKs2MKE1HVtkDHFmX1Xbg1non6weHeZUEchXOI4xFp9oTuYEN9rWMX5AkKpiIovOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hendry County Schools leaders presented a draft update to the district’s strategic plan at a town-hall meeting and invited parents and community members to give feedback through an online survey and a newly formed District Advisory Council.

Superintendent Mike Swindle said the district is seeking community input as it updates the 2021–2024 plan into a 2025–2028 strategic plan and emphasized the administration’s goal of closer community engagement. “We want you to see it, hear it, and we want you to engage in it,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Angela Sadie told attendees as she described the draft and the outreach process.

Why it matters: The strategic plan sets goals and measurable targets for student safety, achievement, school culture and fiscal stewardship. District officials described the update as a “living, breathing document” that will change when progress is made and said public feedback is a required and planned step before finalizing the plan.

District staff described the outreach steps: district leadership drafted revisions from the prior plan, principals and school staff reviewed and provided feedback via Google Forms, the school board reviewed the draft, and the final public-input step is the community engagement now underway. The district is collecting responses through a QR code and an online survey posted on the district’s Facebook and YouTube channels; staff said the bottom of the survey lets respondents give contact information to volunteer for the advisory council.

Dr. Sadie and other staff said the plan’s goals are not ranked; instead each priority (for example, academic achievement, safety and fiscal stewardship) is treated as equally important and will carry specific metrics. The presentation listed specific targets such as reducing incidents reported to the state’s school safety reporting system by 10% annually and raising proficiency targets on state assessments.

District staff said the District Advisory Council will meet quarterly (three or four times per year) and will review items including the strategic plan and calendar changes; staff invited attendees to sign up at the meeting or via the online form. Mr. Munoz (district staff) and other staff explained that the council and surveys will be a formal channel for community voice on topics the district must decide, including school start times.

Discussion vs. decision: Officials characterized the steps as information-gathering and public engagement. No formal policy was adopted at the meeting; staff said next steps are to collect survey responses and schedule advisory-council meetings.

Practical details: The district asked participants to use the QR code or the survey link and said staff will follow up with those who provide contact information. Staff also offered in-person sign-up at district offices for residents who could not attend the meeting.","Hendry County Schools presented a draft 2025–2028 strategic plan at a town-hall meeting, invited public feedback via a survey/QR code and opened sign-ups for a new district advisory council that will meet quarterly.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hendry County Schools outlines calendar changes, state start-time rule and bus-driver shortages; seeks community feedback

Hendry County to build new high school in LaBelle with 1,500-seat capacity; district aims to open for 2027 school year

Hendry County Schools reports gains on state assessments; ties improvements to professional learning and instructional coaching

Hendry County Schools seeks public input on draft strategic plan and starts district advisory council sign-up