THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, A HEALTH ALERT IS ISSUED WITH HUNDREDS OF MILES OF TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS COVERING LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

OUR SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER EXPLAINS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THE LAKE AND SPEND TIME ON THE WATER SAHARAN DUST OVER SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TURNS OUR SKIES.

GORGEOUS COLORS AT SUNSET, BUT ALSO TRAPS IN HEAT.

WE FIND OUT WHY SAHARAN DUST MAKES OUR TEMPERATURES FEEL LIKE THE TRIPLE DIGITS.

AND IT MAY LOOK LIKE THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE TRAINING FOR MILITARY BOOT CAMP.

BUT THESE TEENS ARE TAKING PART IN THE HIGH SCHOOL ELECTIVE.

IT'S DESIGNED TO EQUIP THEM WITH LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, IT IS QUITE COMMON FOR BLUE GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS TO BE PRESENT IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

BUT CURRENTLY THE LEVELS OF THE HARMFUL BACTERIA HAVE FORCED THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ISSUE HEALTH ALERTS, BLANKETS OF BLUE GREEN ALGAE HAVE BEEN SPOTTED COVERING HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES OF THE LAKE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WARNINGS SAY PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING OR USING PERSONAL WATERCRAFT WHEN THERE WAS A VISIBLE BLOOM, YOU ARE ALSO ADVISED TO AVOID COOKING OR CLEANING DISHES WITH WATER CONTAMINATED BY THE ALGAE BLOOMS.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE BOILING THE WATER WILL NOT ELIMINATE THE TOXIN.

>> TOM BAYLISS WGCU SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER.

>> JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THE LAKE AND THE CURRENT ALGAE LEVELS.

>> YES, FOR YEARS, RALPH, OUR WOOD HAS BEEN FLYING ABOVE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS AS A VOLUNTEER PILOT FOR CALUSA WATERKEEPER AND WHAT HE SEES FROM THE AIR TELLS THE STORY.

THE REST OF US CAN ONLY SEEN PIECES FROM THE GROUND.

>> MORE THAN HALF STORY IS COVERED WITH A BLUE.

>> IT'S SCATTERED ALL OVER THE THE THE DENSEST CONCENTRATION IS SORT OF IN THE MIDDLE AND TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE OVER.

>> LAKE OKEECHOBEE ITSELF, FLORIDA'S LARGEST FRESHWATER LAKE.

HE'S ONCE AGAIN SMOTHERED HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES OF BLUE.

GREEN ALGAE NOW BLANKET THE SURFACE.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE HAVING A BLUE GREEN ALGAE OUTBREAK IS NOT UNCOMMON DURING THE SUMMERTIME IN FLORIDA.

HOWEVER, OUR WOOD WHO SPOTTED NUMEROUS OUTBREAKS.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST.

>> THEY'VE BEEN THIS BAD BEFORE, BUT BUT TO IT'S IT'S A PRETTY BAD ONE.

PRETTY CLOSE TO THE WORST.

THE PATTERN IS FAMILIAR.

>> WARM WATER, EXCESS NUTRIENTS FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF AND URBAN STORMWATER STILL CONDITIONS.

THESE ARE THE INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE BLUE GREEN ALGAE THRIVE.

AND EVERY SUMMER, FLORIDA PAYS THE PRICE.

>> THE REST OF THE LIKE THAT'S NOT GREEN IS NOT LOOKING PARTICULARLY HEALTHY, BUT IT'S AT LEAST IT'S NOT AGREE THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKELY IN ORDER TO JUST IT'S JUST KIND OF A DIRTY LOOK AND >> THE BLOOMS PRODUCE TOXINS THAT CAN SICKEN PEOPLE AND PETS.

THEY CLOSE BEACHES AND BOAT RAMPS.

THEY COLLAPSE FISHERIES.

THEY TURNED SOME SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S MOST TREASURED WATERWAYS INTO ECOLOGICAL DISASTER ZONES IN 2018 BLUE GREEN ALGAE RELEASED FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE FLOW DOWN THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

WHEN IT REACHED AGO NEAR SAN CARLOS PAYAN, CHARLOTTE HARBOR.

IT COLLIDED WITH THE RED TIDE.

THE TO BLOOM SMASHED TOGETHER TO CREATE A MASSIVE HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOM THAT DEVASTATED THE REGION IN 2019 AND COST 10'S OF MILLIONS IN ECONOMIC LOSSES.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS AN ONGOING LONG-TIME PROBLEM.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS HAS DEVOTED 10'S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO ADDRESS IT AS RECENTLY AS JANUARY 2024.

30 MILLION DOLLARS WAS EARMARKED FOR EFFORTS TO REDUCE BLUE GREEN ALGAE IN THE CALOOSAHATCHEE AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN ITS WATERSHED.

BUT NOT ALL OF IT HAS EVEN BEEN SPENT YET.

NASA HAS EVEN DEDICATED A SATELLITE SPECIALLY RETROFITTED TO SEE BLUE GREEN ALGAE IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE TO ASSIST WITH THE PROBLEM.

THE REASON FOR ALL THAT INVESTMENT IS CLEAR.

A STUDY CONDUCTED BY GREEN ECONOMICS FOR CAPTAINS, FOR CLEAN WATER AND OTHER LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS FOUND THAT ANOTHER HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOM EVENT LIKE THE ONE IN 2018 2019 WOULD COST SOUTHWEST FLORIDA 5.2 BILLION DOLLARS IN LOST ECONOMIC OUTPUT ALONE.

AND TO THAT 43,000 JOBS LOST 17.8 BILLION IN DECLINING PROPERTY VALUES.

AN 8.1 BILLION IN LOST OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL VALUE.

ON VALENTINE'S DAY OF THIS YEAR OR ARE WOULD PHOTOGRAPHED THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER FROM THE FRANKLIN LOCK IN LEE COUNTY ALL THE WAY UP TO LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

WHAT HE FOUND WAS ALARMING BLUE GREEN ALGAE LINING THE BANKS FOR MILES AND MILES COVERING ROUGHLY HALF THE RIVER BASIN AND THE GOAL OF A CONDO TENT THAT SIGNALS NOTHING GOOD THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PUT SUBSIDENCE REGULARLY ALONG BLUE GREEN ALGAE OUTBREAKS IN CANALS AND RESERVOIRS OFF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER, WHICH ISN'T EVERY WEEK OCCURRENCE.

INEXPLICABLY THEY PUT UP NO SIGN AND ANYWHERE ALONG THE 30 MILES OF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

THAT WAS MIRED IN BLUE GREEN ALGAE.

DESPITE IT BEING HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ESPECIALLY DOGS WHILE THEY FAILED TO DO SO IS A COMPLETE MYSTERY.

I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST WITH THE AGENCIES INVOLVED THAT HAVE GONE MONTHS WITHOUT BEING ANSWERING.

WE'RE EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED.

>> NOW, TOM, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THEY ARE ISSUING WEEKLY WARNINGS WITH REGARDS TO CONCERNS ABOUT THESE BLOOMS.

BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN BACK IN FEBRUARY WHEN WE HAD A MASSIVE BLOOM IN THE CALOOSAHATCHEE.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME IN ALERT WAS ISSUED.

>> JENNIFER, JUST THIS WEEK, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN LEE COUNTY ISSUED A HEALTH ALERT FOR HARMFUL BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TOXINS AND CARE.

SO LAKE AT SOUTH SHORE, THE ALERT FOLLOWS A WATER SAMPLE TAKEN JULY 8TH AND WARNS RESIDENTS TO USE CAUTION IN AND AROUND THE LAKE.

BUT THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY CAN MONITOR AND WARN THE PUBLIC ABOUT LONG-LASTING HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS IN PLACES OTHER THAN CANALS AND RESERVOIRS OFF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

THAT THEY KEPT LAKE AVALON, THE POPULAR WATERSPORTS LAKE IN COLLIER COUNTY CLOSED FOR A YEAR DUE TO TESTING THAT FOUND HIGH LEVELS OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE.

YET THEY PUT UP NO WARNING SIGNS ALONG THE 30 MILES OF THE UPPER CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER THAT WE'RE MIRED IN THE SAME TOXIN.

DESPITE THAT STRETCH BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

WHY THE DISCREPANCY?

THE HOPE IS THAT THE ANSWER WILL COME WHEN THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AS WELL AS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

>> FULFILLED WGCUS PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.

>> THANK YOU, TOM, FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THE STORY, YOU WILL.

>> FOR MORE ON TOM BAYLISS REPORTING ON BLUE GREEN ALGAE.

>> AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, DESPITE EARNING THE TOP RATING FROM THE STATE, THE GLADES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FINDS THEMSELVES IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY AFTER BEING DECLARED AS FLORIDA ALREADY BAKES AND HIGH TEMPERATURES UNDER A PROLONGED DROUGHT.

ANOTHER WEATHER PHENOMENON IS TRAPPING HEAT.

A 5,000 MILE LONG PLUME OF SAHARAN DUST BRINGS HAZY SKIES AND PREVENTS DAILY THUNDERSTORMS.

METEOROLOGIST SAY AREAS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE'LL REMAIN EXTREMELY HOT AND DRY WITH ALL-TIME HIGH AFTERNOON.

TEMPERATURES ON JULY 10TH IN NAPLES, IT REACHED 97 DEGREES IN THE EVENING.

BREAKING A RECORD THAT IS MORE THAN 50 YEARS OLD.

THIS ALSO IMPACTS DROUGHT CONDITIONS WERE OVER.

85 1% OF COLLIER COUNTY IS BEING IMPACTED BY DROUGHT.

AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO NOAA AND DROUGHT DOT GOV.

FOR MORE ON THIS SAHARAN DUST AND THE OPPRESSIVE HEAT.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY CERTIFIED METEOROLOGIST IRENE SANZ FROM THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK IRENE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNIFER.

A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> WELL, THE DUST MAY RESULT IN SOME BEAUTIFUL COLORFUL SUNSETS.

HOW DOES IT ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN OUR LACK OF RAIN AND ALSO THE RECORD SETTING HEAT THAT WE'VE WE'VE SEEN AND FELT.

>> WELL, BASICALLY GET THIS THIS IMPULSE, A SOFA CHAIR AND DUST COMING IN MAY NEED ARE IN THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER.

JUNE IS NOTABLY KNOWN FOR FOR HAVE IN THE THICK LAYER OF SAHARAN DUST COMING OVER TO THE AMERICAS.

JULY HAS BEEN DUSTY, ESPECIALLY THE LAST WEEK.

I WANT TO SAY ACROSS THE SOUTH, FLORIDA, SPECIFICALLY AND BASICALLY IT'S PARTICLES TRAVEL IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND IT BLOCKS ANY SORT OF CHANCE FOR THE BUS, THE PRECIPITATION TO 2 TO IGNITE.

WE ALSO HAVE A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WHICH IS WHAT'S TRULY BLOCKING THE MISSION OF THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE THE WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS, WHICH IS IT'S TYPICALLY HAPPENS DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA BECAUSE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM BRINGS SINKING AIR IN THE ATMOSPHERE AS THE AIR SINKS.

IT WARMS.

BUT IT ALSO PREVENTS ANY SORT OF A THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO OR THE WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO DEVELOP.

NOW WHEN WE HAVE HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEMS USUALLY MEANS FAIR WEATHER, MEANING NO RAIN OR LESS CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS, BUT IT ALSO MEANS VERY WARM TEMPERATURES BECAUSE THE AIR SINKS AND IT NOW WE HAVE THAT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM.

BUT THEN WITH THE SAHARAN DUST, WHAT IT DOES IS BASICALLY BLOCKS THE HEAT RIGHT OVER US RIGHT OVER THE SURFACE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE HAD VERY HOT TEMPERATURES.

VERY MIDDLE RANGE.

YES, WE'VE HAD RAIN AND WE HAVE THUNDERSTORMS STILL DEVELOPING BECAUSE I MEAN, WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER.

MOISTURE IS GOING TO GET IN REGARDLESS AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.

BUT THE SAHARAN DUST LIMITS, THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AND HAVING NEST UNDER STORMS MEANS ALSO MORE WARMTH, MORE HEAT, WHICH HALF CA SOME RECORD TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN NAPLES, A SET A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES LAST FRIDAY, JULY 10TH.

AND OF COURSE, THIS SURPASSES THE RECORD OF 95 SET IN 1970, THANKS.

SO VERY HOT STRETCH ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

>> IS THERE ARE ANY WAY TO TELL WHEN IT WILL CALM DOWN AND MOVE OUT?

>> WELL, I WANT TO SAY BYE BYE, BYE.

MOVING NOVEMBER.

SO WE HAVE A WE HAVE PLENTY OF SUMMER HEAT LEFT.

WE HAVE WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.

COMING UP, OF COURSE, WE CAN'T PINPOINT EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHERE WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE WAVES THAT, YOU KNOW, MY IT'S AFFECTING SOUTH FLORIDA.

MORE NOW, BUT IT CAN SHIFT A LITTLE BIT MORE NORTH IN THE COMING WEEK WHERE THE COMING MONTH.

BUT I MEAN, WE HAVE SAHARAN DUST.

WE HAVE ALL THE INGREDIENTS NECESSARY RIGHT NOW AND WHERE EXPERIENCE IN VERY HOT TEMPERATURES.

THAT'S WHY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED THIS HEAT ADVISORY AND THE HIT SO FAR.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS HAD AT LEAST 5 SOME AREAS, AT LEAST 8 HEAT ADVISORIES THIS YEAR ALONE AND PLACES LIKE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA HAVE HAD AT LEAST 15 HEAT ADVISORIES IN EFFECT.

THIS IS MORE THAN WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR ALTOGETHER.

SO I MEAN, TO SAY WHEN EXACTLY THE HEAT WILL STOP, AT LEAST THIS, THIS INTENSE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS WEEK WITH A VERY HOT TEMPERATURES BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SAHARAN DUST AND WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEMS SET UP VERY CLOSE US, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BRING THE SINKING AIR.

>> AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE THE HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT YOU POINTED OUT >> WERE ACTUALLY BREAKING MORE RECORDS FOR OUR NIGHTTIME TEMPS.

THIS COMPARED TO WHAT WE PEAKED DURING THE DAYTIME.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING MORE THAN NIGHTS.

YES, WE FEEL MORE THE AFTERNOONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE'RE AWAKE.

THAT'S WHEN WE'RE RUNNING ERRANDS, THAT'S WHEN WE'RE OUTSIDE WHEN OUR ACTIVITIES.

BUT SUMMER NIGHTS HAVE BECOME WARMER.

IN THE FORT MYERS AREA.

SINCE 1970, THE TEMPERATURE HAS INCREASED ON AVERAGE ON SUMMER NIGHTS BY ABOUT 2.1 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEMPERATURES THAT ARE NOTICE A LITTLE WARMER AND NOT ONLY JUST WARMER ON AVERAGE, BUT WE'RE ALSO ESTABLISHING MORE EXTREME.

SEE, THEY'RE MORE RECORD HIGHS AND MORE RECORD ARE IN THIS CASE, MORE RECORD WARM LOWS, RECORD WARM NIGHTS AND AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO POINT OUT IS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE HAS IT'S MAKING THESE RECORDS TWICE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN THE LAST IN THE IN THE LAST DECADES ACROSS THE SOUTH, FLORIDA, AND EVEN ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, WE'VE HAD RECORD WARM TEMPERATURES AND OUT RECORD WARM.

LOW TEMPERATURE IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

NOW, THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT HURRICANE FORECAST MODELS AND IF ANYTHING IS FORMING IN THE ATLANTIC, HOW DID THOSE MODELS DIFFER?

AND YOU SEE ANYTHING ON THE HORIZON THAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> BUT WE CAN WE CAN THINK OF IT AS THE REST OF THE RIGHT.

SOME MODELS TAKE AND TAKE INGREDIENTS FROM FROM ONE AREA OF THE ATMOSPHERE.

ANOTHER MAJORITY TAKE ALL THE INGREDIENTS.

BUT THE TIMING, IT'S IT'S IT'S A BIG SIGNAL.

IT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT.

THE INGREDIENTS THAT THEY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MODELS, ESPECIALLY LAST WEEKEND SHOWING SOME SORT OF SIGNAL ACROSS PARTS OF THE EASTERN GULF.

BUT SINCE THEN, THE MODELS HAVE BASICALLY DIE DOWN.

IF YOU ASK ME RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NOTHING TO WATCH OUT FOR IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN, PARTICULARLY IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

THE CARIBBEAN HAS BEEN INVADED BY WIND SHEAR, VERY HIGH WIND SHEAR WHICH IT'S BASICALLY BLOCKING ANY SORT OF TROPICAL FORMATION ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN AND CLOSER TO US HERE IN FLORIDA AND THE GULF.

WELL, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE INGREDIENTS.

WE HAVE TO HAIR AND DUST.

AND WE'VE HAD A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT ANY SORT OF TROPICAL ACTIVITY TO DEVELOP DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

SO I'M NOT LOOKING VERY HOPEFUL WHERE NOT HOPING FOR ANY HURRICANES, BUT I'M NOT LOOKING ANY ANY ANY SIGNS THAT WE'LL HAVE ANY TROPICAL ACTIVITY, A NICE WIN FOR THE WEEK THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW, BUT POSSIBLY THROUGHOUT THE END OF JULY.

>> WELL, I LIKE HEARING THAT THAT'S GOOD.

THANK YOU, IRENE SANZ FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNIFER.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> AS WE ENTER THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP UP WITH THE WEATHER HAPPENINGS BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

>> THE GLADES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN DECLARED FINANCIALLY BROKE BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

NOW ITS FINANCIAL MATTERS ARE IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE, ANY PURCHASES AND ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS MUST BE APPROVED BY A STATE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

WGCUS EILEEN KELLEY HAS MORE.

>> THE CLAY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MADE AMAZING PROGRESS ACADEMICALLY FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE GLADES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN AWARDED THE TOP GRADE IN A BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THE STATE RANKS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON A STRICT A TO F GRADING SYSTEM THAT MEASURES STUDENT PERFORMANCE GRADUATION RATES COLLEGE AND CAREER ACCELERATION AND THE OVERALL ACADEMIC PROGRESS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING CONSIDERING SO MANY CHILDREN COME FROM IMPOVERISHED FAMILIES.

THIS IS HUGE.

IT WAS FIRST GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT YEAR AGO AND THEN JUST RECENTLY.

IN THE MIDST OF CELEBRATING THIS LONG FIGHT JOURNEY TO A THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT BETH BARFIELD LEARN THE NEWS THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS TAKING OVER ITS FINANCES BECAUSE THE DISTRICT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TUCKED AWAY IN A RESERVE ACCOUNT.

>> YES, THAT'S TWENTY-TWENTY ARE GREAT.

HAS BEEN FROM A FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICT TIME NOW.

WE ARE AT A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

AND IMPORTANTLY, ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> MUST KEEP.

AND MINIMUM OF 3% OF ALL THEIR FUNDS TUCKED AWAY IN A RESERVE BUDGET.

WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THE STATE STEPS IN IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO, THE GLADES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RESERVE FUND WAS FLUSH WITH CASH.

BARFIELD TOLD ME ACCORDING TO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY BARFIELD IN 2021, THAT WAS A 20% FUND BALANCE IN THE RESERVES.

BUT THEN THAT BALANCE SHRUNK IN HALF AND THEN DIPPED EVEN MORE INTO REACHING A BALANCE OF JUST ONE HALF OF ONE PERCENT.

BARFIELD SAID THE DISTRICT'S YOU SERVE BALANCES.

WE'RE IN A FREE FALL BECAUSE THE DISTRICT NEEDED TO PULL FUNDS TO BUMP UP TEACHER PAY, HOPING TO NOT LOSE MORE TEACHERS TO HIGHER PAYING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON TOP OF THAT, SHE SAID THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME.

THE DISTRICT DID NOT HAVE A CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WHO COULD SAY WITH CERTAINTY WHAT THE SCHOOL'S FINANCES LOOKS LIKE.

>> WE WERE WITHOUT US CFO FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S HARD TO DO BECAUSE AS A SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOLS, I KNOW ABOUT EDUCATION AND I KNOW ABOUT BUDGETS THAT I KNOW ABOUT OPERATIONS.

BUT THE CFO HAS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.

SO JUST BEING ABLE TO FIND A CFO THAT IS HIGHLY CAPABLE HAS BEEN A LIFESAVER FOR US.

AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING THE CHANGE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BY FIELD SAID SHE DEEPLY REGRETS.

IT CAME DOWN TO THIS.

THE RECORDS THAT WERE BEING SUBMITTED.

WE'RE NOT AS ACCURATE AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

THERE WAS NO NOT NO THEFT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THERE WAS NOTHING ILLEGAL.

BUT WHEN YOU DO YOUR REPORTS TO THE STATE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ACCURATE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DEALING WITH TAXPAYER MONEY AND YOU HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THAT.

AND WHAT WE WERE FINDING THAT WHAT WE WERE SUBMITTING THEY WE HAVE REPORTS WERE NOT DONE AS ACCURATELY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE ACTUAL FIGURE YEAH, WE HAVE PUT US AND PUT US IN A BOT.

>> STATE OVERSIGHT OF THE DISTRICT'S FINANCES HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR MONTHS NOW IN GLADES.

THE WGCU NEWS.

THIS IS EILEEN KELLEY.

>> FINANCIAL HELP COULD BE ON THE WAY FOR GLADES COUNTY SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE 2 REFERENDUMS THAT WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT FOR VOTERS WHEN IT COMES TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, IT IS THE LARGEST GROUP OF J ROTC CADETS IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT DESPITE THE PROGRAM BEING SPONSORED BY THE U.S.

ARMED FORCES, MOST OF THE LEE COUNTY STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM FOR GO JOINING THE MILITARY IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN THAT LEE COUNTY HAS THE MOST JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS CADETS IN THE WORLD WITH OVER 6500 MEMBERS AND 17 HIGH SCHOOLS.

WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND EVEN MORE SURPRISING IS THAT ONLY 17% OF LEE COUNTY JAIL ROTC STUDENTS ACTUALLY JOINED THE MILITARY WGCU REPORTER KATE CRONIN HAS THE STORY.

>> ESTABLISHED UNDER THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT OF JAY ROTC TEACHES CADETS THROUGH A BLEND OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION HANDS-ON LEADERSHIP LABS, PHYSICAL FITNESS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, DRILL TEAM'S ACADEMIC GOALS IN ORIENT HEARING ITS AN ELECTIVE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN'T FAMILIAR WITH J R O T C MAJOR DIANA SAMARRA, SOUTH FORT MYERS CADET TO GRADUATE THIS YEAR AND HOPES TO BECOME AN ENGINE MECHANIC HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> HOW THEM?

>> THE FIRST OF ALL MEANS AND ITEMS OF THE MILITARY.

>> THEY CAUSE SOME OF THE VOTE, THOUGH, SEEING THAT?

NO, I WAS A MARINE DIED IS LIKE A LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT BUSES ARE CONFIDENCE THAT THE PRESSURE FOR THE FUTURE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE CROWDS TO NOT BE SCARED.

SO THE STATE PA U.S.

A YEAR AND SO IMPROVE YOURSELF CONSTANTLY.

AND BY 9 CUTS RECEIVE AND GIVE FEEDBACK.

SO OTHERS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE MISCONCEPTION SAYS LEE COUNTY'S DIRECTOR OF ARMING INSTRUCTION RODNEY SCOTT ROBINSON.

>> IS THAT THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON AN ARMY MODEL WE CAUGHT UP WITH ROBINSON, ZAMORA AND SOME OTHER COULD DEATHS AS THEY WERE GOING THROUGH AN ACCREDITATION PROGRAM AT SOUTH FORT MYERS, HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY WERE GIVING PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THEIR GOALS FOR JAY ROTC AND THEIR GOALS IN LIFE THAT MORNING.

SOME HAD CERTAIN GRADE POINT AVERAGES AND MIND OTHERS WANTED TO IMPROVE THEIR TIME MANAGEMENT AND STILL OTHERS VOW TO VOLUNTEER MORE.

ROB IN 6 PLANES WITH THE PROGRAM IS REALLY ALL ABOUT WERE TO BE A CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO GIVE KIDS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WHAT WHEREVER THEY GO.

>> AND LIFE.

>> FIX THE EMPATHY AND >> YOU KNOW, HARD WORK.

AND LEADERSHIP, KIDS SKILLS, COMMUNICATIONS DECISION MAKING PROBLEM SOLVING ALL OF THOSE SKILLS THAT YOU GOT TO MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL WHEREVER YOU GET.

>> IN FACT, ROBINSON PUTS IT SIMPLY THE MISSION OF JR OTC IS TO MOTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE BETTER CITIZENS.

THEY DO THAT THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS BASED AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THIS YEAR, CADETS PLANNED AND HELD A TRACK MEET FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES.

MOST OF THE TIME THEY WILL WORK WITH AN OUTSIDE NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION TO HELP SUPPORT THAT NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND MORAL PUT A PLAN IN PLACE HE CAN BE COLLECTED DETAILS.

THEY CAN BE HELP AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

IT CAN BE AS THE KIDS BEEN HERE RUNNING A SPORTING EVENT FOR DISADVANTAGED KIDS.

>> ROBINSON SAYS THAT THE ADVANTAGE OF THE ARMY MODEL IS THAT IT MAKES ROOM FOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING.

WE'LL START WITH A GROUP OF 3 AND OF THAT 3, ONE OF THEM WILL BE A SECTION LEADER.

>> COMBINED THOSE 3 KIDS WITH ANOTHER 3 KIDS AND THEY BECOME A SQUAD.

AND I SIGNED A SQUAD LEADER TONIGHT.

HE'S IN CHARGE OF THE 7, 0, VIBE DAYS COMBINED.

THOSE SQUADS TO MAKE UP A TEAM THAT HAVE A TURNED UP A TEAM.

SERGEANT.

I COMBINE THEM INTO A COMPANY AND SO IT GIVES ME A WHOLE SCAFFOLD AND LEADERSHIP AND TEAM AND TEAM MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AGAIN, TO DEVELOP THOSE AT THEIR BEATS THAT WE WANT.

THE YOUNG KIDS HAVE TO BE GOOD.

VALIANT PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> NEVER PREVAL.

>> JUST FINISHED HER FRESHMAN YEAR AND HOPES TO BECOME A PEDIATRIC NURSE.

>> SHE KNEW EARLY ON THAT.

SHE WANTED TO BE IN J ROTC BECAUSE OF THAT LEADERSHIP TRAINING.

>> HONESTLY, I WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, I DIDN'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CHARITY.

SEE, BUT WHEN I SAW EVERYBODY IN THEIR UNIFORMS AND HOW MUCH OF A LEADER THEY ARE THAT INSPIRED ME VERY MUCH.

I WOULD TELL YOU THIS IS A PLACE WHERE YOU GROW A LOT OF PERSONAL COURAGE AND YOU LEARN A LOT FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BE AT THE HIGHEST LIKE LEADERSHIP.

I HAVE BEEN A LEADER AND MY MATH CLASS, ESPECIALLY ONE LIKE THE WORK IS HARD.

I'VE SHOWN LIKE OTHER CLASSMATES.

HEY, THIS IS ANOTHER STEP.

THEY COULD DO FIGURE IT OUT OR LIKE SOMETIMES WHEN A TEACHER IS BUSY AND THE TEACHER JUST EXPLAIN STUFF THAT THEY JUST DON'T GET IT.

I JUST EXPLAIN IT TO THEM LIKE IN A SIMPLER WAY AND THEY USUALLY GET IT BY THE FIRST TIME.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT BALANCING LEADERSHIP WITH TEAMWORK AND STAYING IN STEP WITH OTHERS IN FAR MORE WAYS THAN JUST RAILS AND MARCHING FOR WGCU NEWS WITH DANA HARPSTER.

I'M KATE KRONON OUT THERE.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, A 74 YEAR-OLD MAN BECOMES THE OLDEST INMATE TO BE EXECUTED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

HE JOINS THE LATEST TREND OF GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS CARRYING THROUGH ON EXECUTIONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS ON DEATH ROW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUSED.