Hendry School Opening Delayed One Week - Wait And See Advised

LABELLE, FL. -- At Tuesday's 90 minute meeting of the Hendry School Board, and after much discussion on school openings, the board members voted 4 to 1 to delay the opening by a week and open virtually only. School board meeting are historically poorly attended by the public and this meeting was no exception during COVID, although almost four thousand after-the-meeting views have been logged to the YouTube live-streamed meeting video.

Superintendent of Schools Paul K. Puletti reviewed the latest statistics indicating lower ages of those now being infected with the virus and increasing infection rates in the county, well above 20% of tests being positive for the virus. 

Puletti recommended delaying schools startup, and starting schools August 24, and "temporarily" opening all only as virtual schooling. He says teachers need more time to "nail down" and get ready for digital learning. He says about 85% of students can be reached by digital learning methods. He said the Health Department also concurs with the plan for digital online schooling at this time.

(Glades County schools are planning on opening August 17. Facebook Board Meeting Video )

Puletti said he doesn't want to put teachers in jeopardy, especially those senior aged staff.

Some board members were apparently on the fence or adamantly urging fully opening schools as Florida's Governor mandated, one speaker participating in a long discussion, indicating he didn't believe the Florida Department of Health infection numbers, believing they were in error and showing rates of infection higher than they are and he "doesn't trust them," citing a discrepancy of numbers reported between Hendry Regional Hospital statistics and the FDOH.

Video: Click here for the Youtube Video of Board Meeting of August 4. (The school board does not allow accessing the meeting video on other websites.)