In order to provide the community with the facts about the 2009/10 budget, the Lee County superintendent of schools had scheduled a series of Community Forums six total, with two in each Attendance Zone. The idea was to hold one in each zone before the Legislature created its budget, and then hold another in each zone with the updated budget information, said Joe Donzelli, a spokesman for the school system.

The next three forums were scheduled for Fort Myers High, North Fort Myers High and East Lee County High. Unfortunately, the Florida Legislature has not yet put together any concrete budgetary information, so the District is postponing the second series of Community Forums, he said.

“At this time, it doesn’t make sense to hold the next set of forums because the information hasn’t changed,” said Dr. James Browder, superintendent of schools. “The idea was to be able to provide concrete budgetary figures in the second set of forums, but as of now, we don’t know what the final budget figures for Lee County Public Schools will be. As soon as we have that information, we will reschedule the forums so we can provide our community with the latest information.”

The District continues to work with its local Legislative Delegation and others to monitor the progress in Tallahassee as lawmakers work to develop a 2009/10 budget.

“Once we have updated information and a clearer budgetary picture for Lee County Public Schools, staff will reschedule the community forums, Donzelli said today.