Lee County School District's Interim Superintendent answers questions ahead of new school year

Ahead of the new school year, Dr. Kenneth Savage sits down with FOX 4's Shari Armstrong to talk literacy levels, masks and mental health.

TO THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT TOGET ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS ... WEGOT FROM YOU.WE STARTED THE DAY BY ASKINGPARENTS.HOW THEY’RE FEELING ABOUT THENEW SCHOOL YEAR?"It’s going to be hard, but Ithink she’s got it!

5th grade!""Excited!""GOOD RIDDANCE!

I’m so excitedmy kids are going back toscho!"olEXCITEMENT’S ONE OF THE COMMONTHEME’S WE HEARD TODAYAFTERTALKING TO MANY PARENTS!"GETTING READY FOR A NEW SCHOOLYEAR IS EXCITINGAND A LITTLEHECTIC..AND WE KNOW AS MANY OF YOU WORKTO GET YOUR KIDS READYTHEY’RESOME TOPICS THAT MIGHT LINGER INTHE BACK OF YOUR MIND.

SO WETOOK A FEW OF THOSE STRAIG THTOLEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT’SSUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR KENNETHSAVAGE.FIRST UPLEARNING DURING THELAST YEAR AND RESOURCES FORKIDSWHO COULD USE ADDITIONALHELP""Frankly while there was oynlone area that reallyunderperformed relative tohe trest of the stateand that was3rd grade literacy.

3rd greadliteracy was the one score thatcame back lower than the statelevel of performance.

As well asthe state declined but wedeclinedor me than they did.

Forall other eaarinstructionallywe actuallyoutperformed the state or wedeclined less than the statedid.THE DISTRICT TELLS ME THEY’VEPLANNED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER TOPROVIDE SUPPORT TO STUDENTS.THAT INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL PLANSFOR STUDENTSAND LITERACYCOACHES FOR STUDENTS INKINDERGARTER THROU 2NDGH GRADETO HELP STUDENTS PREPARE FOR 3RDGRADE.AND THEN WE ASKED HIM ABOUTMAS.SKESPECIALLY AFTER GOVERNOR RONDESANTIS HAS TAKEN SUCH A CLEARSTANCE.COULD THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOLDISTRICT SEE A MASK MANDATE?TO WHICH HE TELLS ME..ANYTHING’SPOSSIB.LEDr. Kenneth Savage,SuperintendentLee County School District"All options are on the table.Always.

We have to considereverything that we can possiblydo."DR. SAVAGE SAYS THE DISTRICTLOOKS AT ALL ASPECTS OFCOVID-19, SAFETY AND HEALTH.HE TELLS ME HE CAREFULLYCONSIDERS THE PERSPECTIVES OFVARIOUS DECISION MAKERS ANDFACTORS THAT COULD IMPACT CASESIN OUR AREA.Dr. Kenneth Savage,Superintenntde"We’re impacted by what ourneighbors do.We’re impacted bycommunities on the other side ofthe stateand we’re impacted bythe laws certainlythe stance ofour governorthe stance of ourcommissionerand I kind ofembrace that part."HE SAYS RIGHT NOW FOR THEDISTRICTIT’S ABOUT SKRIREDUCTION"Things such as encouraging useof masksvaccines for those whoare eligible to get vaccinesweencourage that as well"AND AFTER A YEAR OF CHANGE MOSTOF US NEVER SAW COMINGINCLUDING DISTANCE LEARNING FORELEMENTARY STUDENTS.VIRTUALGRADUATIONSTO MASK OR NOT TOMASKWE HAVE TO CONSIDER MENTALHEALTHTHE IMPACT IT’S HAD ONOUR STUDENTSAND HOW WE CAN BTESSUPPORT THEM DURING THE NEWSCHOOL YEAR.

*THAT’S A TOPIC THESUPERINTENDENT AND I DISCUSSED,TOO.Dr. Kenneth Savage,Superintendent"It continues to be an evolvingarea for us and we continutoetry to do more.

But, fortunatelywe’ve had the benefit of somefederal stimulus dollarsthatare called Esser Fundswhichreally one of the other issuesthat they really try to addressunderlying mental health issuesthat we know have been abyproduct of the pandemic."AND AS WE TALKED TO PARENTSTODAYTHIS TOPICSEEMED TO ALSOBE TOP OF MINDSO WE LEFT THE DISTRICTANTOD OK WHAT WE WERE HEARINGFROM PARENTSCONCERNS ABOUTSOCIAL ANXIETY AND MENTAL HEALTHTO SAMARITAN HEALTH AND WELLNESSIN Cape Coral.

DR. SUSAN HOOK ISA NURSE PRACTICTIONER ANDDIRECTOR THERE.SHE’S FAMILIAR WH ITWHAT ALOT OFYOU ARE SEEING IN YOUR KIDS.SHESAYS.Dr. Susan Hook, NursePractitioner and DirectorSamaritan Health and Wellness"Some were suffering fmroanxietysome from obsessivecompulsive issues with handwashingWE ASKED FOR SOME ADVICEAND SHEBASICALLY TOLD US THAT IT’S OKAYIF YOU DON’T HAVE ALL THEANSWERS.NONE OF USO.

DDr. Susan Hook, NursePractitioner and DirectorSamaritan Health and Wellness"These kids are living throughsomething that we really don’know how to handle.

It’s surpeimportant to just be available.And validate and sayokaylet’stalk about your day.

Let’s talkabout going back to school nextweek."NEXT WEEKMORE STUDENTS WILLRETU TRNO IN-PERSON LEARNINGINSTRUCTION THAN VIRTUALTHEDISTRICT SAYS.AND AS THE DISTRICT AND STUDENTSPREPAREPARENTS WE TALKED TO SAYTHEY’REJUST WORKING TO SUPPORT THEIRKIDS IN THE BEST WAY THA