THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STATE EDUCATION FUNDING IS BEING DIRECTED TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS BUT A NEW REPORT SHARES DETAILS OF SOME OF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY COMMITTED BY FOUNDERS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS, ENSURING THE HEALTH OF STUDENT ATHLETES, A NEW STATE LAW HELPED SAVE THE LIFE OF A CHILD AFTER THERE WERE A MANDATE TO UNDERGO A MEDICAL TEST BEFORE TAKING THE FIELD AND KEEPING YOUR PET SAFE WITH TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID THE GROWING NUMBER OF PARASITES THAT COULD LEAD TO PRICY VET BILLS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FLORIDA HAS SEEN A RISE IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THE DATA IS SHOWING AN AVERAGE OF 100 NEW PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OPENING UP ANNUALLY IN THE STATE.

THE LEARNING POLICY INSTITUTE REPORTS ALMOST HALF A MILLION FLORIDA STUDENTS.

THAT AND MORE THAN 2600 PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THAT IS ABOUT 13% OF ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS.

THE FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SAYS PRIVATE SCHOOLS RECEIVE UPWARDS OF 4 BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DIVERTING EDUCATION AND MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

A NEW INVESTIGATION FROM THE NONPROFIT NEWSROOM, PRO PUBLICA REVEALED SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA ARE RECEIVING STATE MONEY DESPITE PREVIOUS ILLICIT ACTIVITIES FROM HIS LEADERS.

FOR MORE ON THE RISE OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF SCHOOL VOUCHERS.

I AM JOINED BY MOLLY SIMON.

SHE IS A RESEARCHER AND A JOURNALIST WITH PRO PUBLICA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST NORTH.

WE'RE GETTING CHEETAH.

>> NOW FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE UNFAMILIAR, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE VOUCHER SYSTEM AND HOW PARENTS ARE USING THESE VOUCHERS TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF THEIR CHILDREN ATTENDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY VARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHAT EXACTLY THESE LOOK LIKE.

SO THE YOU KNOW, THE SPECIFIC NATURE OF THE PROGRAM, IT DEPENDS ON THE STATE THAT YEAR AND BUT IN GENERAL AND THE LAST 2 YEARS WE SEE AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF STATES THAT ARE PROVIDING FORMS OF PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ATTEND AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

AND SOMETIMES THAT'S THROUGH TAX CREDIT.

THAT COACH IS SORT OF INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP THAT AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TUITION.

SOMETIMES IT'S DIRECTLY THROUGH VOUCHERS THAT CO 2 FAMILIES, INCOMES, THAT'S HERE, EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AS SO.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU'RE AT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE EXACTLY.

AND WHAT AMOUNT OF THINGS LIKE TUITION ARE COVERED.

>> SO ONE SITUATION IN FLORIDA WAS A WOMAN CHARGED WITH ABUSE OF A MINOR AND SHE OPENED A SCHOOL AND IT SEEMS SHE WAS ONLY FOUND OUT BECAUSE SOMEONE POSTED HER MUGSHOT ON FACEBOOK HAVE YOU SEEN ISSUES WITH THE STATE'S HANDLING OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE LIKE THIS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM.

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, STEPPING BACK ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE WE'VE SEEN OF THAT IN THAT CASE IN FLORIDA, THEY THEY DID.

YOU NEVER SEND HER ABILITY TO AT PARTICIPATE IN THE END, THE STEP UP FOR STUDENTS PROGRAM.

BUT IT CAME AFTER THE FACT AFTER SHE HAD RD, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISH THE SCHOOL UNDER UNDER USING AM YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ELSE'S.

AL SAYS DOCUMENTS AS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN FLORIDA.

SO IT'S IT TOOK THE COMMUNITY STEPPING IN TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHO IS CREATING THE SCHOOL FOR THAT TO COME TO LIGHT.

AND SO I THINK EVEN AND SOME STATES ARE REDUCE E. REGULATORY CHECK BOXES.

THAT'S WHEN DO THEY COME INTO PLAY?

AND ARE THEY HAPPENING BEFORE?

INDIVIDUALS DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY WANT TO SEND THEIR KIDS AND IT'S NOT THAT THAT CHECK IS HAPPENING.

ALWAYS ON THE FRONT END AND THAT IT TOOK, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY AT BRINGING THAT CASE TO LIGHT FOR IT TO COME TO THE ATTENTION OF.

THE STATE GOVERNOR OF AND AND THE TIMELINE.

>> WE ALSO HAD AN ARTICLE ON HOW PARENTS CAN DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH.

HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO ENSURE THAT THE INSTITUTION THEY ARE CHOOSING TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO IS LEGIT.

WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR PARENTS OUT THERE WHO ARE LOOKING INTO AND IT'S A PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING TO THINK ABOUT IS THERE.

THERE ARE DOCUMENTS OUT THERE THAT CAN CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

SCHOOLS.

IT'S NOT UNFORTUNATELY AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO.

YOU KNOW, BACKGROUND IN WORKING TO THINK ABOUT FOR SENDING YOUR CHILD TO PUBLIC SCHOOL AS WELL.

OF COURSE.

BUT WITH A PRIVATE SCHOOL, IT TAKES A LOT MORE PIECING TOGETHER OF INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND SORT OF THE CONTEXT OF A SCHOOL.

SO I THINK SOME OF THE GENERAL TIPS, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT WHO IS IN THE CLASSROOM WITH YOUR STUDENT.

THINK ABOUT WHAT DOCUMENTS YOU MIGHT FIND ABOUT THEM, BUT ALSO TO TAKE THE TIME TO AT THE MOST BASIC LEVEL, DO SOME GOOD PLAYING AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ONE'S NAME AND DOING THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHATEVER PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU HAVE ABOUT THEIR NAME.

BACK TO KIRAN, AS YOU CATER BILL OCCASION THAT YOU'RE IN AND SEE WHAT COMES UP.

AND I THINK IN THE CASE OF THE WOMAN THAT WE WERE, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING ABOUT WHO I SHOULD KNOW TO NOT TO NOT RESPOND TO REQUEST FOR COMMENT FROM YOU KNOW, IN THAT SCENARIO, HAD YOU LOOKED AT HER SCHOOL AND HAD YOU GOOGLED HER NAME, YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT PAST HISTORY OF WHAT AT WHAT SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY LOST HER EDUCATOR'S LICENSE OR SO I THINK DOING SOME BASIC.

SOME BASIC SEARCHING A MAN'S AS A REALLY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT IT SUGGESTS TO SENIOR FINANCIAL STABILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY WILL LAST THROUGH.

MASTER LOSS TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO ANOTHER SUGGESTION THAT WE'VE MADE FOR VOTES IS A LOT OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO OPERATE AS NONPROFITS.

PROPUBLICA MAINTAIN SOMETHING CALLED THE NONPROFIT EXPLORE WHERE WE GATHER 9.90, FILE AND SOMETHING THAT NONPROFITS DEPENDING ON THEIR SIZE, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MONEY THEY DEAL WITH YOU FILE IT.

THE IRS EACH YEAR AND SO WE HAVE A DATABASE OF THOSE OF THEIR PUBLISHED AND THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LOOK AND SEE IF YOUR SCHOOL IS ON THERE.

YOU KNOW, IT IS.

IS THE SCHOOL BRINGING IN AT A BASIC LEVEL MORE MONEY AND ITS SPENDING AND SORT OF THAT THAT BASIC LIKE IT, IS IT STAYING AFLOAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS?

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE TIPS WITH LOVE FREE TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE FULL LIST THAT WE HAVE ONLINE.

BUT I THINK THAT'S THE BASIC SOME BASIC STARTING PLACES.

THIS THINK ABOUT THE CLASSROOM.

ALSO CHECK FOR EDUCATORS WHO TO FORGET WHERE YOU ARE.

THIS CAN BE AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR AS THEY WERE AND ARE PUTTING IN FLORIDA TO SEE WHAT SOMEONE'S HISTORY AND THEY MAY INCLUDE IF THEY'VE HAD ANY DISCIPLINE AS A AND EDUCATOR IN THE PUBLIC SYSTEM.

BUT THEN ALSO TO SEEING WHAT AT WHAT OTHER FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS YOU MAY BE UP TO FIND ABOUT A SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS OPERATING IN A WAY TO ALLOW IT TO STAY AFLOAT.

>> SIMON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

EXCELLENT INFORMATION TODAY.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK MENTORSHIP.

>> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND OTHER EDUCATION STORIES IMPACTING FLORIDA BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE GLADES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DECLARED BROKE BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

IT MIGHT COME DOWN TO VOTERS TO DICTATE THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

A NEW FLORIDA LAW REQUIRES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES TO HAVE AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM TO TEST THEIR HEART BEFORE THEY CAN TAKE PART IN SPORTS.

THE SECOND CHANCE ACT WAS NAMED FOR HIGH SCHOOL.

SENIOR CHANCE GAYNOR.

HE DIED ON A FOOTBALL FIELD 2 YEARS AGO FROM AN UNDETECTED HEART CONDITION.

WGCUS AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE HAS THE STORY OF ONE ATHLETE WHOSE LIFE MAY HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THIS TEST.

>> LAURA THAT HER 15 YEAR-OLD SON, JACOB, PUTTING THE SPORTS PHYSICAL BEFORE HE COULD PLAY GOALIE AS A FRESHMAN ON THE LEMON BAY HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER TEAM.

BUT THEN SHE LEARNED HE WOULD ALSO NEED AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM THIS YEAR.

FLORIDA MANDATED THAT ALL INCOMING HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES GET TESTED FOR UNDIAGNOSED HEART CONDITIONS.

THE CONDITIONS OCCUR IN ABOUT ONE IN 300 PEOPLE.

EKG TESTING CAN CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY CAUSE HARM.

THOUGH HE HAD PLAYED SOCCER SINCE AGE 8 WITHOUT ANY SYMPTOMS.

JACOB WAS FOUND TO HAVE WOLF PARKINSON WHITE SYNDROME OR W P W THAT'S A CONGENITAL HEART CONDITION IN WHICH AN EXTRA ELECTRICAL PATHWAY CAUSES THE HEART TO BE DANGEROUSLY FAST LEFT UNTREATED, IT CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.

WE HAD NO SYMPTOMS OF WW AT ALL.

>> AND THEY NOTIFIED US AND THEY SAID THAT IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T ATTACK UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EKG AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN UNTIL WE DID.

>> AND AND IT WAS ABOUT THE FACT.

>> THE MUGGERS AND MANY OTHER FAMILIES WERE HELPED OUT BY A NONPROFIT CALLED WHO WE PLAY FOR THE GROUP IS INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING FREE OR LOW-COST EKG TESTS FOR STUDENTS AND THEN HAVING THOSE TESTS READ BY HIGHLY QUALIFIED PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGIST, SOPHIA JOHNSON IS A HEART SCREENING DIRECTOR FOR WHO WE PLAY FOR.

SHE'S GLAD TO HEAR A STORY LIKE JACOBS WHEN THE TEST FINDS A DEFECT THAT A FAMILY MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S SUPER ENCOURAGING ITS SUPER FULFILLING AND REASSURING NOT ONLY TO HEAR STORIES LIKE JACOB ALSO SOMEONE PERSONALLY THE HAS LOST.

SOMEBODY IS IN CARDIAC ARREST.

IT WAS MY BEST FRIEND AFTER A GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

HE WAS A PERFECTLY HEALTHY ATHLETE, VARSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER.

HE HAD AN UNDETECTED UNKNOWN HEART CONDITION.

AND UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS AT HOME WHEN HE SUFFERED SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST AND PASSED AWAY.

SO I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PARENTS THINK THAT THAT'S RARE.

THAT'S A MISCONCEPTION WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAR UP.

IT'S NOT AS RARE AS YOU MAY THINK.

>> ERIC THIESSEN, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY AT GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

HE'S CONFIDENT THAT THE NEW LAW WILL SAVE LIVES.

>> BY DOING ALL THESE EKGS IN DETECTING THESE KIDS THAT DO HAVE DISEASE, WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE THEY HAVE A CARDIAC ARREST.

I TOTALLY AGREE THAT THIS WILL IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> AS FOR JACOB, >> HE WAS TREATED WITH AN ABLATION AND WAS ABLE TO BE BACK ON THE PITCH WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.

HIS MOTHER IS IMMENSELY RELIEVED >> I KNOW THAT I CAN SLEEP SOUNDLY AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT HIS HEART IS GOOD.

AND THAT'S THE MAIN PART OF A HUMAN.

>> AND JACOB IS HAPPY TO BE BACK PLAYING THE SPORT HE LOVES.

IF YOU WATCH HIM PLAY.

THERE'S NO WORDS NEEDED.

YOU SEE THE LOVE THE.

THE DEDICATION AND THE STRENGTHS.

HE PUTS ON THAT FIELD FOR WDSU NEWS.

I'M AMANDA IN SCORE WITH MORE.

>> FOR MORE ON HEART HEALTH, FOR YOUNG ATHLETES, WE ARE JOINED BY DOCTOR JOSEPH PEPE.

HE IS A HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THESE EKGS DIAGNOSE?

>> YEAH.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EKGS ARE ELECTRIC, RD RAMS.

WE REALLY ARE FOCUSING ON THE ELECTRICAL HEALTH OF THE HEART.

IT'S IT'S ANOTHER WAY FOR CARDIOLOGIST TO LOOK AT OVERALL HEART HEALTH.

IT LOOKS AT THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL.

SO AND EKG CAN DETECT UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT.

AND SO IT'S A GREAT SURVEILLANCE TOOL.

A LOT OF US GO THROUGH THEM WHEN WE HAVE OUR PHYSICALS EACH YEAR AND WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAN ADULTS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THAT SCREENING DONE.

SO WE'RE DOING THAT.

SO THERE'S SOME ABILITY AND AVAILABILITY TO DETECT SOME OF THESE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND THEN A HEART ATTACK?

>> YEAH.

SO THERE'S THERE'S ALL KINDS HEARTBEAT ABNORMALITIES, I GUESS IS WHAT WE WOULD SAY.

AND SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE EKG.

WE CAN LOOK AT ALL THOSE THINGS.

IF CERTAIN PART OF THE HEART IS IS BEATING AT A DIFFERENT PACE AND THE OTHER PARTNER, YOU HAVE A FAST HEART RATE OR YOU HAVE FLUTTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS TEST CAN LOOK FOR THOSE THINGS.

A HEART ATTACK IS ACTUALLY AN EPISODE WHERE PART OF THE HEART IS BLOCKED.

AND SO IT'S A MAJOR EVENT THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN WE DO THESE SCREENINGS AS A GENERAL SURVEILLANCE, WHEN WE DO OUTREACH PROGRAMS, THERE'S A DECENT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE UNDERLYING HEART CONDITIONS THAT THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT.

BUT THEY FEEL PERFECTLY FINE AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY TREATABLE.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING A FUTURE HEART ATTACK.

>> AND WHAT SHOULD PARENTS AND THE KIDS EXPECT WHEN THEY START THIS PROCESS?

>> YEAH, SO IT'S IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

WE DO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GIVE US A CALL AND THEN WE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT.

THEY COME IN.

WE PROVIDE PHYSICALS AS WELL AS WE CAN DO.

THESE EKGS.

A LOT OF THE STUDENT ATHLETES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE EKGS NOW AS PART OF THE SCREENING, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.

AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS JUST NOT SEGMENT JUST STUDENT ATHLETES, BUT TO ANYONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN GETTING A GOOD BASELINE STUDY FOR THEIR CHILD OR EVEN ADULTS IF THEY WANT TO COME IN AND JUST GET ASSESSED.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

NOW, WHAT RISK FACTORS CAN PARENTS OF STUDENTS WATCH FOR?

>> YEAH.

SO I YOU KNOW, I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S IT'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HEART HEALTH, YOU KNOW, IF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE REGULATED, YOU HAVE HYPERTENSION.

OBESITY IS A MAJOR FACTOR.

ARE YOU PRE DIABETIC OR YOU HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES?

THAT'S ANOTHER RISK FACTOR AS WELL.

AND OTHER THINGS TO DO.

YOU DO STRENUOUS WORK?

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR STRESS LEVEL LIKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS PLAY MAJOR IMPACTS INTO YOUR ARTICLE.

>> AND IS THERE ONE KIND OF SPORT THAT PERHAPS POSES A HIGHER RISK FOR STUDENT ATHLETES THAN OTHERS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SAY MAYBE, BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS EVERY SPORT HAS ITS OWN LEVEL OF EXERTION, RIGHT?

SO WHETHER IT'S DURING THE HIGH HEAT STRESS OF SUMMER, YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY THE TRACK TEAMS, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE STUDENT ATHLETICS, YOU KNOW, TENNYSON AND FOOTBALL, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT YOUR LEADING.

THAT'S A VERY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS WELL DANCE.

ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS.

SO WE LIKE TO SAY THAT IF YOU'RE ENGAGED IN ANY TYPE OF CO CURRICULAR ACTIVITY PROBABLY SHOULD GET CHECKED OUT.

>> AND DR, WALK US THROUGH WHAT KIND OF COST PARENTS CAN EXPECT IF THEY WANT TO GET ONE OF THESE EKGS FOR THEIR KIDS.

>> YEAH, OUR GOAL IS CAUTION.

BE A BARRIER TO GETTING TREATED RIGHT.

SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH MOST MAJOR INSURANCE IS SO THEY COVER THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

THERE MIGHT BE A MINIMAL FEE LIKE A CO-PAYMENT THERE.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS WELL AS WE ALSO WORK BECAUSE WE'RE PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE ALSO WORK ON A SLIDING FEE SCALE BASIS AS WELL.

SO IF YOU HAVE NO INSURANCE, WE DO THAT BASED ON A FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY SCREENING.

>> BUT THE FEES TEND TO BE RATHER NOMINAL, DO THEY NOT?

HER?

>> YEAH, I YOU KNOW, 15, $20.25 $1.

IT REALLY.

IT DEPENDS ON EVERYONE'S INSURANCE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT THE GOAL IS NOT TO HAVE COST BE THE BARRIER.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING A SUPER IMPORTANT INFORMATION TODAY.

DOCTOR.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN FIND A HEART SCREENING SITE NEAR YOU.

>> PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR PEDIATRICIAN OR YOU CAN VISIT WHO WE PLAY FOR DOT ORD AND CHECK UNDER SCREENING REGISTRATION.

THE GLADES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ONE OF 2 IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA PLACED IN A STATE OF FINANCIAL EMERGENCY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THE DECLARATION CAME IN MARCH AFTER THE DISTRICT'S GENERAL FUND BALANCE DROPPED BELOW THE MANDATORY 2% THRESHOLD.

THE DECLARATION MEANS THAT ALL MATTERS HAVING TO DO WITH FINANCES MUST BE CLEAR THROUGH A STATE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE UNTIL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ABLE TO REPLENISH THAT MONEY INTO ITS RESERVE BALANCE.

WGCU REPORTER EILEEN KELLEY JOINS US NOW.

EILEEN, WELCOME.

>> I THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JENNIFER.

>> EILEEN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US HOW THE FINANCIAL ISSUES HAVE THE GLADES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL NOW BE IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS.

>> WELL, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, OFFICIALS IN GLADES COUNTY HAVE AGREED TO PUT 2 BALLOT MEASURES BEFORE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.

THAT COULD GIVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AN INFLUX OF CASH EFFECTIVELY HELPING THE DISTRICT GET OUT FROM UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE STATE.

THE FIRST ONE THAT NEEDS VOTER APPROVAL WILL ALLOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SHIFT FUNDS FROM ITS CAPITAL ACCOUNT TO ITS OPERATING ACCOUNT.

NOW BY LAW, THESE ACCOUNTS ARE TO REMAIN SEPARATED UNLESS THE TRANSFER IS APPROVED BY VOTERS.

VOTERS HAVE APPROVED THIS IN GLADES FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS RUNNING UNTIL THE MATTER SUNSET AT ABOUT ONE AND A HALF TO 2 YEARS AGO.

I RECALL FROM YOUR EARLIER REPORTING.

>> THAT'S ABOUT THE TIME WHEN GLADES STARTED TO RUN INTO SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

CORRECT?

THAT'S EXACTLY CORRECT.

>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WENT FROM HAVING A RESERVE BALANCE OF ABOUT 20% DOWN TO POINT HALF OF ONE PERCENT DUE PRIMARILY TO TEACHER RAISES.

NOW, STATE LAW REQUIRES A FUND BALANCE OF A MINIMUM OF 3% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET.

THIS VOTER APPROVED MEASURE LAPSED WITHOUT IT BEING BROUGHT BACK UNTIL NOW.

AND IT WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

>> SO THAT IS ONE OF THE REFERENDUMS THAT IF PASSED, COULD HELP THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND SO HOW ABOUT THE SECOND REFERENDUM THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT?

IT?

>> WELL, I WAS REALLY I WAS ALL PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S CALLED THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX TO HELP BUILD UP THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT, WHICH IS WHAT THE DISTRICT WOULD LIKE TO FIRE FRONT.

BUT THINGS HAVE JUST CHANGED.

I SPOKE WITH SUPERINTENDENT BETH BARFIELD WHO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN NO LONGER ASK VOTERS THIS NOVEMBER TO APPROVE AN INCREASE IN SALES TAX TO ADD THE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE BALLOT MEASURE HAD TO BE PULLED.

AND I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT WAS BECAUSE OF A TECHNICALITY, BUT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TECHNICALITY.

YOU SEE IN FLORIDA, THE LEGISLATURE HAS CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE TO RESEARCH AND DOCUMENT SPENDING EFFICIENCY.

SO BEFORE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN ASK THE VOTERS TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX, THE DISTRICT IS REQUIRED TO WHILE SPECIFIC REPORTS WITH THE STATES AND GLADES TO NOT DO THIS REPORT SEEKING TO PUT THE MATTER ON THE REFERENDUM THIS NOVEMBER.

AND SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF.

NOW.

>> SO HOW IS SUPERINTENDENT BARFIELD TAKING ALL OF THIS IN IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE DISTRICT NEEDS CASH TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THE STATE.

>> I CAN TELL YOU GRADES COUNTY IS.

ESPECIALLY RESILIENT.

IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTIES IN THE STATE AND FOR 2 YEARS NOW, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EARNED A RATING BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, PROVING THAT POVERTY DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN POOR GRADES.

NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT NOT THAT LONG AGO THE DISTRICT IS CONSIDERED TO FEELING SCHOOL DISTRICT ACADEMICALLY.

AND NOW IT HAS TOP TIER RANKING.

>> IT'S NOT JUST CHANGING THOSE STUDENTS LAUGHS.

IT'S CHANGING OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS IN FLORIDA, YOU SEE THAT IN A GLADES COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATINGS.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATINGS.

WELL, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IS IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THAT THAT STOPS A.

>> HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF MY CONVERSATION WITH DR BARFIELD WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT SHE WANTS VOTERS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT GIVES THE DISTRICT THE AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER FUNDS WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES AND MISSIONS GIVES THE FLEXIBILITY IN OUR SPENDING AND THAT WOULD HELP OF 2 EAT A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE.

AND WHO BETTER MAKE HIM.

THANK YOU FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS.

A REALLY IMPORTANT STORY, ALI.

>> SO YOU'RE OF THE REST WILL COME THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> HERE'S AN INTERESTING FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

>> THE GLADES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTUALLY PREDATES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTY ITSELF.

ACCORDING TO THE GLADES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE PRIOR TO GLADES COUNTIES CREATION BACK IN 1921, THE ORIGINAL COUNTY COMMISSION EVEN LEAST THE SCHOOL BOARD BUILDING UNTIL A NEW COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1926.

AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THERE HAS BEEN A SURGE IN PARASITES IMPACTING THE HEALTH OF PETS.

THE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR POOCH FROM ANY FOR PET LOVERS, KEEPING YOUR FUR-BABY SAY FROM PARASITES CAN BE A CONSTANT STRUGGLE.

THE CDC HAS SEEN TICK BITES INHUMANS SURGED TO ITS HIGHEST RATE IN DECADES.

AND THE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM HAS RECENTLY BEEN FOUND IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO IN ANIMALS.

BUT ASIDE FROM KEEPING YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS INDOORS, THERE ARE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

WGCUS CARY BARBOR HAS MORE.

>> WHAT PARASITIC INFECTIONS ARE ON THE RISE THESE DAYS >> ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU MENTIONED, PARASITES ARE HAVING A PARTICULAR HEYDAY WHICH CAN BE A BIT CHALLENGING FOR BOTH PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE.

BUT FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP KEEP PETS SAFE.

YOU'VE LIKELY HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS ABOUT NEW WORLD SCREWWORM NEW WORLD SCREWWORM HAS RECENTLY REEMERGED IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW.

IT CONTINUES TO POSE A THREAT FOR EXPANSION ALONG THE TEXAS MEXICO BORDER AS WELL AS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN U.S.

SO WE NEED TO BE PARTICULARLY VIGILANT.

I KNOW FLORIDA IS UNFORTUNATELY SOMEWHAT WELL VERSED IN THIS AS WE SAW A NEW WORLD SCREWWORM TRIED TO MAKE A COMEBACK IN THE KEY DEER IN 2017.

LUCKILY THAT OUTBREAK WAS CONTAINED AND WAS THAT KEPT UNDER CONTROL RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

BUT THAT'S JUST ONE OF MANY PARASITE THREATS THAT PATS ARE FACING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT SHOULD PET OWNERS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR IF THEY SUSPECT SOME SOME A PARASITIC INFECTION IN THE IN A PET.

>> YEAH.

IF YOU SUSPECT A PERSON TO PARASITIC INFECTION AND A PET, ESPECIALLY IF YOU SUSPECT NEW WORLD SCREWWORM IN YOUR PET CONTACT.

YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY.

NEW WORLD SCREWWORM IS AN EMERGENCY THREAT THAT PET DOES NEED IMMEDIATE VETERINARY CARE.

SOME SIGNS COULD BE AN UNEXPECTED WOUND, A WOUND THAT'S ENLARGING MAYBE HAS A FOUL ODOR, SOME DISCHARGE AND HAS GROW SAYS THIS MAY SEEM YOU MIGHT SEE SOME GLISTENING MOVEMENT.

YOU MIGHT BE SEEING THE MAGGOTS AND THAT WOUND.

THAT'S THE LARVAL STAGE.

A NEW WORLD SCREWWORM WHERE IT GETS ITS NAME.

IF YOU SEE THAT, DON'T PANIC.

CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY.

AND THEN MOVING TO FLEAS TECH, SUSPECTING OTHER PARASITES.

TALK TO YOUR VETERINARIAN, EVEN IF YOU AREN'T ALREADY SEEING FLEES AND TAKES AND YOUR PET, I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU TALK TO YOUR VETERINARIAN TODAY ABOUT GETTING ON PROACTIVE BROAD-SPECTRUM COVERAGE >> FOR ALL THE MORE REASON TO HAVE A GOOD ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH A VETERINARIAN.

WHO KNOWS YOUR PAD AND KNOWS YOU.

AND YEAH, IT'S SO SOME PEOPLE ARE KIND OF MAKING THAT CALLED FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN THEY'RE WHEN THE DOG IS IN TROUBLE.

IT'S THE WHICH IS NOT GREAT.

SO.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I REALLY THINK THAT.

WELL, IT IS BOTH CONCERNING THAT WE'VE HAD SO MUCH INCREASE IN PARASITE ACTIVITY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WE CAN LOOK AT IT AS A REALLY GREAT THING BECAUSE IT CAN GET PET OWNERS TO ESTABLISH THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR VETERINARIAN THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF ITS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS TO GET IN THERE AND FINALLY GET THAT RELATIONSHIP GOING WITH YOUR LOCAL THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR CASEY LOTT THERE.

IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE AND REALLY HELPFUL TO TALK TO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, A POPULAR DISNEY FILM IS BROUGHT TO LIFE.

HOW SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE TRANSPORTING THEATERGOERS INTO THE REALM OF FROZEN.

FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG, WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.