Fort Myers Right Now

Lee County schools are highlighting Florida Gulf Coast University as a community partner, with particular attention to teachers graduating from FGCU's College of Education. The relationship links the local university directly to the district's educator pipeline. Its practical value will be visible in student teaching, recruitment and whether graduates remain in Southwest Florida classrooms.

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SOURCES

• Lee Schools Spotlight FGCU as Community Partner — School District of Lee County — 2026-08-25
  https://www.leeschools.net/news/august_2026/

The School District of Lee County is recognizing student Hadley Gilchrist in its Rising Star series. The feature gives the district a way to highlight individual achievement that may not appear in a team score or schoolwide ranking. Students and families can look to the full district profile for the activity, accomplishment and educators connected to the recognition.

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SOURCES

• Lee Schools Recognize Rising Star Hadley Gilchrist — School District of Lee County — 2026-08-21
  https://www.leeschools.net/news/august_2026/

Lee County schools are highlighting a dual-enrollment partnership with the University of Florida. Dual enrollment allows eligible high-school students to complete college-level coursework while still enrolled in the district. Families need to review eligibility, course availability, deadlines and how credits apply toward graduation, because the academic value depends on choosing classes that fit both the high-school plan and future college goals.

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SOURCES

• Lee Schools Highlight Dual Enrollment With University of Florida — School District of Lee County — 2026-08-25
  https://www.leeschools.net/news/august_2026/

Lee County Superintendent Denise Carlin has been named the inaugural recipient of the Florida Department of Education Commissioner's Leadership Award. The recognition places a statewide spotlight on district leadership during the opening of the new school year. The award is ceremonial, while families will continue measuring leadership through staffing, transportation, classroom performance and communication across the district.

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SOURCES

• Denise Carlin Receives Florida Education Leadership Award — School District of Lee County — 2026-08-26
  https://www.leeschools.net/news/august_2026/

Three Lee County schools have been recognized among America's Healthiest Schools for twenty twenty-six. The designation highlights campus work connected to student and staff well-being rather than academic test scores alone. Families can use the recognition as a starting point to ask which nutrition, physical-activity, mental-health or wellness practices earned the honor and whether those practices will expand elsewhere in the district.

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SOURCES

• Three Lee County Schools Earn Healthiest-School Recognition — School District of Lee County — 2026-08-21
  https://www.leeschools.net/news/august_2026/

The Fort Myers Historic Preservation Commission is scheduled to meet Thursday, August twenty-seventh. Preservation decisions can affect alterations, demolitions and design review within protected areas, making the agenda especially important for affected property owners and nearby residents. Anyone planning to speak should verify the meeting time, location and public-comment procedure through the city calendar.

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SOURCES

• Historic Preservation Commission Meets in Fort Myers Thursday — City of Fort Myers — 2026-08-27
  https://www.cityftmyers.com/1168/City-Mayor-Council

Fort Myers has a Building and Zoning Oversight Committee meeting scheduled Thursday, August twenty-seventh. The committee provides a public forum for issues involving development review, building practices and zoning administration. Residents following a particular property or policy should review the posted agenda rather than assume every pending development will be discussed during the meeting.

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SOURCES

• Fort Myers Holds Building and Zoning Oversight Meeting — City of Fort Myers — 2026-08-27
  https://www.cityftmyers.com/1168/City-Mayor-Council

Lee County Mosquito Control has begun integrating helicopter-mounted LiDAR into routine operations, becoming the first mosquito-control agency in the country to use the technology this way. LiDAR maps terrain and vegetation with laser measurements, helping crews understand canopy height and obstacles. The goal is to make aerial treatment more precise while improving flight planning and coverage.

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SOURCES

• Lee Mosquito Control Adds Helicopter-Mounted LiDAR — WGCU — 2026-08-12
  https://news.wgcu.org/text/environment/2026-08-12/lee-county-mosquito-control-pioneers-lidar-technology-to-improve-treatment-precision

Florida Gulf Coast University is moving its weekly events email into MyFGCU, the university's app and desktop portal. The enhanced events module allows users to browse by date, search by keyword and save listings to personal calendars. Students and employees will need to use the portal rather than wait for a separate email if they want the most current campus schedule.

Production note: Madison is an AI-generated host using a synthetic voice.

SOURCES

• FGCU Moves Weekly Campus Events Into MyFGCU — Florida Gulf Coast University — 2026-08-10
  https://www.fgcu.edu/inside/news/fgcu-summer-in-review

Florida Gulf Coast University has completed an academic-core redesign that adds a central walkway, native landscaping, shaded seating, hammocks and gathering areas. External wireless access points extend the space's usefulness for study and campus activities. The project changes a former pass-through corridor into a destination where students can work or meet outdoors when Southwest Florida weather allows.

Production note: Madison is an AI-generated host using a synthetic voice.

SOURCES

• FGCU Academic Core Redesign Adds Shade and Outdoor Study — Florida Gulf Coast University — 2026-08-10
  https://www.fgcu.edu/inside/news/fgcu-summer-in-review