THIS IS SOUTH WEST, FLORIDA, IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, WE'RE SIFTING THROUGH SOME OF THE CONFUSION BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE POLLS.

WE LOOK BACK ON THE HISTORY OF FLORIDA'S CLOSED PRIMARY SYSTEM AND WHY SOME ARE ARGUING FOR IT TO BE MORE OPEN.

THE BUSES HAVE ROLLED OUT AND THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT.

WHOLE SCHOOL VOUCHERS ARE TAKING ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND A PATH TOWARDS GREENER PASTURES COMES DOWN TO VOTERS, A SPRAWLING BIKE AND NATURE TRAILS FINANCIAL FUTURE WILL BE DECIDED AT THE BALLOT BOX HELLO ON TEDDY BYRNE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FLORIDA'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE JUST ONE WEEK TODAY AND SOME VOTERS ARE REALIZING AFTER RECEIVING THEIR MAIL IN BALLOT.

IT'S A CLOSED PRIMARY SYSTEM IN FLORIDA.

REGISTERED VOTERS CAN ONLY VOTE IN THE PRIMARY CONTEST THAT MATCHES THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION UNLESS THERE ARE NO OTHER CANDIDATES.

THE WINNER WILL HAVE TO FACE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

IN RECENT YEARS, FLORIDA HAS SEEN AN INFLUX OF RESIDENTS FROM STATES THAT HAVE LESS RESTRICTIVE SYSTEMS GARNERING WHO CAN VOTE IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

AND THEY MAY FIND FLORIDA SYSTEM A BIT CONFUSING.

WGC HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS IS WITH US TODAY TO HELP EXPLAIN FLORIDA SYSTEM HOW IT CAME ABOUT AND THE MAIN ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST CHANGING IT.

NOW, JON, THE CLOSED PRIMARY SYSTEM IS OLDER THAN MANY PEOPLE MIGHT REALIZE.

HOW FAR BACK DOES IT GO?

>> WELL, HERE IN FLORIDA GOES BACK TO 1913.

THAT'S WHEN THEY ADOPTED A LAW CREATING A SYSTEM WHERE, YOU KNOW, ONLY REGISTERED REPUBLICANS VOTE IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES AND VICE VERSA FOR DEMOCRATS.

BUT THIS WAS LONG BEFORE THE MODERN, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW.

I MEAN, THIS WAS A SYSTEM THAT WAS ADOPTED DURING THE PROGRESSIVE AREA.

IT WAS REALLY MORE ABOUT PARTY INTEGRITY AT THE TIME.

SO IMAGINE EVEN BEFORE WE HAD PRIMARY ELECTIONS, IT WAS OFFICIALS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES WHO WOULD CHOOSE WHO THEIR NOMINEE IS FOR DIFFERENT POLITICAL CONTESTS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE IN CONFERENCES OR CAUCUSES.

SO WHEN THEY STARTED LETTING VOTERS CHOOSE WHO THE PARTY'S NOMINEE WAS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW LETTING JUST ANY VOTER, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION WOULD FEEL UNTENABLE.

THAT LAW DID REMAIN ON THE BOOKS, BUT IT REALLY KIND OF BECAME CODIFY.

THE 1968.

AND THAT'S WHEN FLORIDA ADOPTED A NEW CONSTITUTION.

AND THIS WAS REPLACING AN OUTDATED CONSTITUTION FROM 18.

85.

BUT IN THAT CONSTITUTION, AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE NOW.

IT SET UP THE ELECTION SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW AND THE CURRENTS, YOU KNOW, CLOSED PRIMARY SYSTEM NOW BY THE END OF THE 20TH CENTURY OF FLORIDA, WAS KIND OF ONE OF JUST A SMALL NUMBER OF STATES, BUT STILL USED PRIMARY ELECTIONS THIS WAY.

HAVE THIS RESTRICTIVE CLOSED SYSTEM.

AND THEN IN 1998, VOTERS APPROVED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CALLED THE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY AMENDMENT.

AND THIS OPENED THE COMPLETELY PRO CLOSED PRIMARY SYSTEM TO WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TODAY WHERE?

LET'S SAY YOU'RE A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN AND THERE ARE NO REPUBLICANS IN THAT RACE.

THEN THE CAR OR ANY OTHER CANDIDATES IN THAT RACE, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION USE WOULD STILL GET TO HAVE A VOICE IN THAT PRIMARY, EVEN THOUGH NO CANDIDATES OF YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION, WE'RE AT IT.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO THEN WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS FOR MAYBE POSSIBLY OPENING UP THE PRIMARIES OR MAYBE JUST KEEPING IT CLOSED?

>> SO I THINK THE MAJOR ARGUMENT FOR KEEPING IT THE WAY IT IS NOW IS THAT.

BASICALLY THIS IDEA THAT REPUBLICANS SHOULD CHOOSE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND DEMOCRATS SHOULD CHOOSE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE SUPPORTERS OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM ALSO POINT OUT THAT OPENING A PRIME AREAS COULD OPEN UP THE ELECTION SYSTEM TO WHAT IS CALLED RATING.

AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

LET'S SAY YOU HAVE 5 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES THAT ARE COMPETING FOR THE NOMINATION.

YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATIC VOTERS COULD THEORETICALLY THAN VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN THEY THINK IS THE WEAKEST AND WHAT HAVE THE LEAST CHANCE OF DEFEATING THE DEMOCRAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT ARGUMENT IS NOT STRONG BECAUSE PEOPLE ALREADY DO A VERSION OF THAT TODAY.

LIKE IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT AND YOU LIVE IN A A HEAVILY REPUBLICAN AREA, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL CHOOSE TO REGISTER WITH A PARTY THAT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY AGREE WITH JUST SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A GREATER SAY IN THE ELECTIONS OF OFFICIALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, GOVERNING MAP AS FAR AS ARGUMENTS TO OPEN UP THE PRIMARIES.

YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE IDEA IS THAT THIS IS A TAXPAYER FUNDED PROCESS FOR DETERMINING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND AS MANY ELIGIBLE VOTERS AS POSSIBLE SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THAT PROCESS.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE GET INTO THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT OF HOW INDEPENDENT VOTERS ARE REALLY DISENFRANCHISED FROM THIS PROCESS.

THAT'S BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, THERE'S MUCH LAST ON YOUR PRIMARY BALLOT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON AND THE NUMBER OF INDEPENDENTS IN FLORIDA AS PEOPLE BECOME MORE DISENFRANCHISED WITH THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES MEANS THAT THIS IS A MUCH LARGER VOTER BLOC LIKE BACK IN 2000, THE NUMBER OF AND PA REGISTERED VOTERS IN FLORIDA MADE UP ABOUT 15 AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE OVERALL ELECTORATE.

TODAY.

IT'S NEARLY A QUARTER TODAY.

IT'S CLOSE TO 25%.

SO THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GETTING TO HAVE A SAY AND THESE PRIMARY POLITICAL CONTESTS TODAY THAN THERE WERE EVEN JUST A QUARTER CENTURY AGO.

>> AND THEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST ARGUMENTS AGAINST MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS THE RIGHT IN LOOPHOLE.

NOW, WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT?

>> SO BUT THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW.

>> LET'S SAY YOU ONLY HAVE REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR A RACE.

THERE ARE NO DEMOCRATS.

THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE PRIDE THAT WOULD OPEN UP THE PRIMARY UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE WHO THEN QUALIFIES NOW THE PRIMARY BECOMES CLOSED AGAIN BECAUSE WHOEVER WINS THAT PRIMARY IS GOING TO FACE A COMPETITOR IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

NOW, THIS CAME OUT OF A 2000 INTERPRETATION WRITTEN BY THEN SECRETARY OF STATE KATHERINE HARRIS, WHERE SHE BASICALLY STATED IF THERE IS A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE, THE WAY WE INTERPRET THE LAW MEANS THAT CLOSES THE PRIMARY AGAIN.

AND SO WHAT THIS CREATES A SYSTEM THAT REALLY SEEMS TO BENEFIT INCUMBENTS IN FLORIDA.

LAWMAKERS TEND NOT TO WANT TO FIX THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY BENEFIT FROM IT.

AND I'M NOT TALKING REPUBLICANS OVER DEMOCRATS AND MORE YOU KNOW, STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.

DEMOCRATS WILL USE THE WRITE-IN LOOPHOLE TO THEIR BENEFIT.

IT'S NOT.

BOTH PARTIES DO.

IT IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

BUT THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT TO ADDRESS AND CHANGE THAT SYSTEM.

THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS.

GENERALLY LED BY INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHO, AGAIN WANT TO HAVE A GREATER SAY AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS COMING THURSDAY AFTERNOON TO BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THE SYSTEM AND THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

BUT AS FAR AS ANY CHANGE GETTING MADE, I DON'T SEE THE LEGISLATURE DOING THAT ANYTIME SOON.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S GOING TO BE THROUGH THE CITIZEN BALLOT INITIATIVE.

JOHN DAVIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANKS.

>> AS WE CONTINUE TO COUNT DOWN TO THE 2026 FLORIDA PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR IN-DEPTH COVERAGE BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

WELL, COMING UP, ENSURING SAFE PASSAGE FOR ANY STUDENT LOOKING TO GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME.

THE NEW TECHNOLOGY GIVING SCHOOL BUS I YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED ON YOUR MORNING COMMUTE.

THE BIG YELLOW BUSES ARE BACK IN MOTION AS KIDS WRAP-UP THEIR SUMMER BREAK AND HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY.

CHARLOTTE DESOTO GLADES HENDRY AND OKEECHOBEE ALL RETURN BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND TUESDAY IT WAS LEAN COLLIERS.

TURN TO GET BACK IN SESSION.

WGCU.

EILEEN KELLEY HAS MORE ON HOW THE STATE IS PREPARING FOR THE NEW SCHOOL >> BEFORE THE FIRST SCHOOL BELL RANG, OUR BUSES ROARED TO LIFE.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AND THE NEW SELECTION TO BE THE FLORIDA COMMISSION OF EDUCATION STOPPED BY THEIR TOUR TO GET ELMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY IN LEHIGH ACRES TO ASK THE AGE OLD QUESTION, WHERE DID THE TIME GO UP?

LIKE I'M IN DUNEDIN.

I WENT TO DUNEDIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN EVEN HIGH SCHOOL, RIGHT?

IT JUST WAS WHAT IT WAS.

>> THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS BACK IN THE 90'S OR MAYBE THERE WAS A PROGRAM OR 2.

>> THAT YOU COULD DO.

I WAS IN PINELLAS COUNTY AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE DIFFERENT SUMMER, BUT NOW THE NORM IS SCHOOL DISTRICTS KNOW THEY GOT TO COMPETE FOR PARENTS.

>> DESANTIS WAS JOINED BY HENRY MACK, THE NEWLY MINTED FLORIDA COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.

MIKE IS A LONGTIME EDUCATOR WHO BRIEFLY WORKED FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR.

BEFORE THAT HE WAS THE STATE CHANCELLOR OF WORKFORCE EDUCATION.

THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS ALSO A TIME TO SET GOALS RIDING HIGH ON THE DISTRICT'S RECENT GAINS IN A STATE RANKING SYSTEM.

LEE SUPERINTENDENT DENISE KURLAND ANNOUNCED HER AMBITIOUS GOAL OF MOVING UP A RANKING FOR MAY BE RATED DISTRICT TO AN A.

>> JAY COHEN ENGLISH 2 YEARS AGO WITH A DEA RAID AT SCHOOL.

NOW THEY'RE IN A WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF THAT HAVE WORKED REALLY DILIGENTLY TO IMPROVE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE FOR EDUCATION.

>> IN LEE COUNTY PLACE RANKING THIS YEAR SHOWED THE MOST GAINS IT HAD IN 10 YEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME.

THERE WERE NO SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVED A D GRADE AND NO SCHOOL RECEIVED A FAILING GRADE EITHER FOR WGCU NEWS.

THIS IS CITING KELLY.

>> SO FOR MORE ON THE OUTLOOK FOR THE 2026 27 ACADEMIC YEAR.

I'M JOINED BY ANDREW SPAR.

PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO NOW THIS YEAR, THE FLORIDA STATE BUDGET REACH NEAR RECORD HIGH PER STUDENT FUNDING AROUND 30 BILLION DOLLARS.

BUT THE FDA HAS SAID THAT DOESN'T MATCH WITH THE RISE IN INFLATION.

SO HOW FAR OFF IS THE ACTUAL BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION FROM WHERE YOU BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE?

>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR FUNDING HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN OUR BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION IN OUR FUNDING PER STUDENT, WE RANK ABOUT 43RD IN THE NATION AT BEST AND WE'RE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST STATES IN THE NATION AND ARE RAISED THIS YEAR IN FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS WAS LESS THAN 2%.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT INFLATION COSTS ARE CLOSING IN ON AROUND 4% NOW, I BELIEVE CLEARLY OUR DISTRICTS ARE STRUGGLING AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR.

YOU SEE IT IN DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE STATE.

THEY ARE ELIMINATING POSITIONS, ELIMINATING COURSE INCREASING CLASS SIZE ALL IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

SO WHAT WE HAVE CALLED ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR FOR SEVERAL YEAR NOW IS TO INCREASE THE PER STUDENT FUNDING BY $1000 PER STUDENT FOR AT LEAST 7 YEARS TO MOVE FLORIDA FROM NEAR THE BOTTOM IN THE NATION TO TOP 10 IN THE NATION.

WHY NOT LEAD THE NATION IN AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE.

WHY NOT LEAD THE NATION IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE AND NEED.

>> NOW, ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT DID RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM.

I BELIEVE THEY RECEIVED ABOUT 4.5 BILLION DOLLARS.

THESE FUNDS COULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN WORKED INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO WHAT IMPACT IS HAPPENING AS THE SCHOOL VOUCHERS ARE GETTING SOME OF THESE FUNDINGS THAT COULD OTHERWISE GO TO OTHER EDUCATIONAL OUTLETS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM, IT'S GOING TO CLOSE IN AND NEARLY 5 BILLION DOLLARS BEING DIVERTED AWAY FROM FLORIDA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO THESE UNACCOUNTABLE VOUCHER PROGRAMS.

YOU KNOW, FLORIDA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST FOLLOW 1408 PAGES OF LAWS.

THE VOUCHER PROGRAM, LIKE A DOZEN PAGES LIKE 12, LITERALLY.

BUT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW.

AND IT'S MOSTLY JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THERE HIRING GO THROUGH BACKGROUND CHECKS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, RIGHTFULLY SO.

WE DEMAND THAT TEACHERS MEET A MINIMUM STANDARD THAT THEY MUST BE CERTIFIED.

THAT THING MUCH HAVE A DEGREE THAT THEY MUST MEET CERTAIN ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN ORDER TO TEACH IN OUR SCHOOLS WHERE IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, QUITE HONESTLY, SOME CAN TEACH.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE AND BE CALLED A TEACHER.

AND NONE OF THAT HAS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO PARENTS.

SO FOR US, IT'S ABOUT FAIRNESS.

IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY WITH WHAT HAPPENS WITH TAXPAYER PAIR DOLLARS.

AND I'LL ADD THIS AS WELL ABOUT 15% OF FLORIDA STUDENTS NOW GET A VOUCHER.

MOST OF THEM ARE STUDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS YET.

NEARLY 25% OF FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS GOES TO THAT VOUCHER PROGRAM.

THE NUMBERS, A MISMATCH.

THE VOUCHER PROGRAM IS GETTING MORE PER STUDENT THAN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> ONE AS THE DOUBTERS SYSTEM GROWS, IT SEEMS TO BE IMPACTING ENROLLMENT.

I KNOW IN LEE COUNTY ALONE, I BELIEVE IT DECLINED BY 2000 STUDENTS THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

IS THIS A TREND THEN YOU SEE CONTINUING AND HOW THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THEN REACT TO THIS AND HOPE TO GET THEIR ONLY ENROLLMENT NUMBERS UP.

>> WELL, LETS LOOK AT THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS BECAUSE THERE'S A FEW FACTORS COMING INTO PLAY HERE.

NUMBER ONE, BIRTHRATES ARE DOWN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SO THERE ARE LESS STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE NATURALLY COMING INTO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

NUMBER TO MORE AND MORE FAMILIES ARE MOVING OUT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

THERE WAS JUST A REPORT THAT CAME OUT SAYING THAT FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE STATES FOR FAMILIES.

IN FACT, MIAMI ACROSS THE COAST IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITY TO LIVE IN IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING COSTS.

SO WHEN YOU PUT ALL OF THOSE FACTORS TOGETHER AND THEN, YES, ADD IN SOME OF THE SO-CALLED SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS WHICH ARE DIVERTING STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL'S INTENTIONALLY BY MISLEADING THEM BY PUTTING MONEY OUT THERE TO LURE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU SEE OBVIOUSLY AN ENROLLMENT DECLINE, BUT IT'S NOT ALL VOUCHERS.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

AND WE SHOULD BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

>> SO ARE THERE ANY CHANGES FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR?

YOU THINK PARENTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF OR OTHER WAYS THEY CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE TO MAYBE ENSURE THAT THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT HAS A THRIVING SCHOOL YEAR.

>> LISTEN, WE ALL AS PARENTS WANT THE BEST FOR OUR KIDS.

WE WANT OUR KIDS TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION.

AND FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, THERE NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENCY.

THERE NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY AND THERE NEEDS TO BE FAIRNESS ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS IN WHICH EDUCATION IS OFFERED.

AND SO WHAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONSIDER IS THERE'S A PRIMARY COMING UP VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

THAT'S WHERE MOST SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE DECIDED AND VOTE FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE NEED STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN EVERY COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THAT COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO THRIVE BOTH SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE ELECT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE PRIMARY AND THEN AGAIN, IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING EVERYONE WHO RUNS FOR OFFICE.

ARE THEY GOING TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING THAT CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIRED EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE AND NEED.

AND IF SOMEONE IS NOT WILLING TO STEP UP AND STEP OUT AND SPEAK UP ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING THEM IN OFFICE.

>> EMAAR SPARRED, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME HERE.

AND I HOPE EVERYONE'S HAVING A GREAT START TO THE >> ASIDE FROM THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING WITH THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR.

THERE'S ALSO A TIME FOR A ROADSIDE REMINDER, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THERE WERE MORE THAN 10,500 ILLEGAL PASSES OF SCHOOL BUSES DURING THE 2025.

26 SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT INCLUDED OVER 3500 BUS CRASHES.

WGN'S NEWS, DANA HART, THEIR SHARES, HOW LEE COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE RAISING THE STOP SIGN TO MAKE SURE ALL MORNING COMMUTES ARE SAFE.

ONE.

>> SCHOOL BUSES ON THE ROAD MEAN AN INCREASED FOCUS ON STUDENT SAFETY.

A BIG PART OF THAT IS UP TO DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES WHO MUST REMEMBER TO STOP WHEN BUS LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE ARM GOES DOWN.

HERE'S LEE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT DENISE KARLYNN.

>> SO HERE'S A SIMPLE BUT IMPORTANT REMINDER AS OUR BUSES HEAD BACK OUT, WHEN YOU SEE THAT STOP ARM COME OUT IN THOSE RED LIGHTS, START FLASHING IT MEANS YOU MUST STOP.

THE ONLY EXCLUSION TO THIS IS WHEN THERE IS A 5 FOOT WIDE RAISED MEDIAN BETWEEN YOU AND THE BUS.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHETHER YOU SHOULD.

>> PLENTY OF PEOPLE DID NOT STOP LAST SCHOOL YEAR AND IT RESULTED IN PLENTY OF CITATIONS LAST DECEMBER.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STARTED USING BUSPATROL WHICH USES CAMERAS TO RECORD THE VEHICLES THAT VIOLATE THOSE BUS SAFETY REGULATIONS.

THOSE CAMERAS TRANSMIT THE RECORD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT RESULTING IN TICKETS THAT RUN $225 EACH.

>> SINCE WE FIRST DEPLOYED BUSPATROL THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPROVED CITATIONS IS 30,232 IN OUR FIRST SCHOOL YEAR.

>> SHERIFF CARMINE MARCENO STRESSES THAT THIS ISN'T A FUNDRAISER FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SAFETY OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

>> THESE NUMBERS ARE MORE THAN STATS.

>> EVERY VIOLATION REPRESENTS A CHILD THAT COULD HAVE GOD FORBID >> BEEN HIT BY A CAR.

THEIR LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

>> AND APPARENTLY ANYONE CITED IS UNLIKELY TO DO IT AGAIN.

>> SAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S CHIEF OF SAFETY SECURITY AND FLEET OPERATIONS.

DAVID NOLAN, 90% OF DRIVERS.

>> WERE CITED.

NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

THAT CHANGED BEHAVIOR MEAN SAFER ROADS RUN.

EVERY ONE OF OUR BUS STOPS.

>> DANI, WOLFE OF BUSPATROL REINFORCES THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING.

>> WE MEASURED VIOLATIONS PER BUS PER DAY.

AND SINCE DECEMBER AND THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM TO MAKE THE LAST FULL BUSY MONTH OF SCHOOL.

WE SAW A REDUCTION OF 30%.

SO I ASK ALL OF YOU HELP US AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE THAT THIS IS A 0 TOLERANCE COUNTY FOR ILLEGAL SCHOOL BUS PASSING.

>> FOR ANY DRIVERS WHO BECOME FRUSTRATED BECAUSE SUDDENLY THEIR SCHOOL BUSES TO NAVIGATE AGAIN.

>> NULAND HAS SOME REASSURANCE BUSES AND DROP OFF LANES WILL BE BUSIER THAN NORMAL IN THE OPENING DAYS.

WE WILL HAVE EXTRA POLICE PRESENCE OUT THERE AND PRINCIPALS AND OUT HELPING DIRECT TRAFFIC TO KEEP THINGS MOVING AND FAMILY SAFE IN THE ROUTINE.

THE FIRST 2 WEEKS.

>> THE OTHER QUESTION PARENTS MAY HAVE ABOUT SCHOOL BUSES IS GETTING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL ON TIME ONCE AGAIN.

HERE'S SUPERINTENDENT IN EAST HARLEM LAST YEAR.

>> WE'VE GOT OUR ON TIME.

ARRIVALS UP TO 98%.

AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO IMPROVE UPON THAT.

WE WANT 100% OF OUR BUSES ON TIME AND ON BUSES ARE RUNNING LATE.

IT IMPEDES OUR ABILITY TO HAVE STUDENTS IN THEIR SEAT READY TO GO.

>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT IS FAIR.

ALICE HAS BEEN A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER FOR 10 YEARS.

SHE DRIVES ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

SHE WAS SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS.

>> YOU DO SEE A LOT OF DRIVERS BLOWING THROUGH THE STOP SIGNS AS GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT THEY STILL DO IT.

YOU CAN SEE THEM NOW MAY BE.

HEARING ABOUT IT ARE EITHER RECEIVE IN A TICKET.

THEY PAY MORE ATTENTION TO IT THAN THEY DID BEFORE.

>> FOR WDSU NEWS, THIS IS DANA HERBSTER.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER FUN FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

IF YOU'RE CURIOUS WHY MAJORITY OF SCHOOL BUSES ARE YELLOW THEM.

AND THE DANK IS DR.

FRANK SEAR, ACCORDING TO THE SMITHSONIAN, HE PROPOSED A SINGLE STANDARD COLOR DURING A NATIONAL TEACHER'S CONFERENCE IN 1939, THE CALLER CREATED UNIFORMITY AND HELP DISTINGUISH SCHOOL BUSES FROM OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

IT ALSO MAKES THE BLACK LETTERING POP, ADDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES FOR MORE EDUCATION FACTS.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

AND AFTER THE BREAK, THE FUNDING FOR 2 MAJOR PROJECTS ARE COMING DOWN TO THE VOTERS IN NEXT WEEK'S PRIMARIES.

WE BREAK DOWN THE COSTS THAT VOTERS IN 2 CITIES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WILL DECIDE ON AUGUST 18TH TO RAISE TAXES ON THEMSELVES TO PAY FOR MAJOR PROJECTS.

PEOPLE IN BONITA SPRINGS AND MARCO ISLAND WILL VOTE ON BOND REFERENDUMS PROPOSALS TO BORROW MONEY.

AND FOR MORE ON THIS WGCUS.

MIKE WALTER IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THESE PROPOSALS AND THEIR COSTS.

>> WHAT ANALYSTS START BONITA SPRINGS.

IT IS A BOOMING CITY WITH NEARLY 60,000 YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS AND VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ALLOW THE CITY TO BORROW 35 MILLION DOLLARS WITH A 30 YEAR PAY OFF.

THIS MONEY WOULD GO FOR A MAJOR RECREATIONAL TRAIL THROUGH THE CITY.

MOST OF THE CASH WOULD GO TO THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND'S TO BUY NEARLY 6 MILES OF THE OLD ABANDONED SEMINOLE GOLF RAIL LINE.

NOW THAT PURCHASE WILL BE COMBINED WITH MONEY FROM COLLIER COUNTY AND ESTERO TO FUND A NEARLY 12 MILE TRAIL FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS OF COLLIER AND ESTERO HAVE COMMITTED THEIR PARTS OF THE 60 MILLION DOLLAR PURCHASE PRICE.

AND BONITA IS THE LAST ELEMENT.

THE LONGEST SECTION TO MAKE THE TRACKS.

AND THIS RAIL TRAIL FOR PUBLIC USE A REALITY.

BUT THERE'S OPPOSITION AND DAVE J IS PUT ON A LOT OF MATERIAL ONLINE ARGUING THAT THIS TRAIL WILL BE A MONEY PIT FOR BONITA.

THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND'S THE CITY COUNCIL IN BONITA HAVE ARGUED MANY OF THE CLAIMS AGAINST THE REFERENDUM ARE FALLS OR EXAGGERATED.

ALSO, A GROUP CALLED FRIENDS OF BIRCH FRIENDS OF THE BONITA ESTERO RAIL TRAIL HAS BEEN MOST ACTIVE FOR ACTUALLY SEVERAL YEARS IN IN GENERAL SUPPORT OF THIS IDEA.

THE CITY SAYS APPROVAL WOULD MEAN AN EXTRA $57 A YEAR IN TAXES FOR A HOME WITH A TAXABLE VALUE OF 440,000.

SO VOTERS DECIDE 50%.

PLUS ONE FOR APPROVAL OR DEFEAT OF THAT PLAN.

NOW THE OTHER REFERENDUM GOES BEFORE VOTERS IN MARCO ISLAND.

23 MILLION DOLLARS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE, SPECIFICALLY TO REPLACE 2 OF THE OLDER BRIDGES, PRIMARILY WCAX AMBOS.

IT IS SHOWING SOME CRACKS AND THE CITY SAYS BADLY NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

ALSO ANOTHER NEARBY BRIDGE GOLDENROD WOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE MONEY AND THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO REPAIR 3 OTHER BRIDGES AND THEN REPAVE SOME ROADS THAT BADLY NEED A NEW SURFACE.

ACCORDING TO CITY ENGINEERS, BONN PAYOFF, 20 YEARS AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS SAY MARKOW NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE 50 TO 60 MILLION DOLLARS FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS.

23 MILLION AT LEAST WOULD BE A START.

THE CITY COUNCIL, LAURA AND MARCO ON MARCO IN THE PAST.

HE'S CONSIDERED TAX INCREASES TO PAY FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT A LOT OF OPPOSITION POPPED UP AND THAT CONVINCED THE COUNCIL TO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE YES OR NO.

THE COST OF APPROVAL WOULD BE ROUGHLY 55 TO $60 A YEAR ON A HOME VALUED FOR TAXES AT 580,000 APPROVAL REJECTION AGAIN REQUIRING 50% PLUS ONE.

>> NOW, MIKE, WHAT WOULD IT MEAN IF ONE OR BOTH OF THESE BOND REFERENDUMS FAILED AT THE POLLS?

WELL, IT IS CERTAINLY ON MARCO ISLAND.

THE RESULT WOULD BE THAT.

>> THE CITY WILL HAVE TO ASK FOR GRANTS FROM THE STATE OR LOCAL A STATE OR A NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO TRY TO GET MONEY TO DO THESE PROJECTS AND TRYING TO GET THAT EXTRA MONEY.

THAT COULD BE PRETTY DICEY GIVEN EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY AND WITH BUDGETS NATIONALLY AND STATEWIDE IN BONITA SPRINGS.

WELL, AND IT WOULD KIND OF BE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND BONITA WOULD HAVE TO SAY IS SOMEBODY OUT THERE ABOUT 30 MILLION DOLLARS.

OKAY.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS SAYING IF IT IS VOTED DOWN AFTER ALL THE TIME THAT'S BEEN PUT INTO THIS SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE ON AND ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES.

IT'S A NO VOTE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD TRY TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO SALVAGE.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO COME UP >> IT ISN'T CERTAINLY SOME TO KEEP AN EYE ON BEFORE NEXT TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES.

YEP, WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE RESULTS WILL BE MOST INTERESTED VERY WELL.

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HOW A GROWING COYOTE POPULATION IS THREATENING THIS YEAR'S SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON.

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