WOULDN’T TELL US HOW MANY THEIR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS HAVE THAT EXEMPTION. >> DOZENS OF LEE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN ICE PROTEST AT LEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS. NOW A STATE SENATOR IS CLAIMING THE TEACHERS UNION HELPED ORCHESTRATE THE WALKOUT. GULF COAST NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER DAVE ELIAS JUST GOT OUT OF AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IN DAVE. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED? KELLY WERE ACTUALLY WORKING TO CONFIRM JUST HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. BUT WE’RE TOLD THE SUSPENSIONS HAVE NOT ALL BEEN HANDED DOWN. THE DISTRICT SAYS THERE ARE MORE THAN 3600 STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED ACROSS 14 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. BUT THE BIG QUESTION TONIGHT >> IS WHY WERE SO MANY STUDENTS SUSPENDED EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS? STUDENTS AT CAPE CORAL, IDA BAKER, NORTH FORT MYERS OF WALKING OUT OF CLASSES, PROTESTING ICE ARRESTS WAS ONCE A UNITY THAT HE’S ONE OF THE SHOW HOLDING SIGNS AND CHANTING AGAINST WE ALL >> KIND OF WALKED AROUND THE SCHOOL PROTESTING. WE’RE SAYING WHAT WE FEEL. SOME STUDENTS JUMPING FENCES AND LEAVING SCHOOL. I DID NOT WANT MY CHILD TO BE PART OF THIS. >> STATES SENATOR JONATHAN MARTIN MAKING THIS CLAIM IN TALLAHASSEE WITHOUT EVIDENCE. >> I’VE HEARD ACCUSATIONS FROM JUST MY DISTRICT. LEE COUNTY. SCHOOL TEACHERS WERE HELPING ORGANIZED POLITICAL SPEECH AND IN THE WALKOUT WAS THE TEACHERS UNION BEHIND THESE WALKOUTS OR DID YOU WORK A STRAIGHT THEM? NO, WE DIDN’T. TEACHERS UNION PRESIDENT KEVIN DALY DEMANDING PROOF WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO. >> SHOW HOW TALC. ORGANIZED HER, YOU KNOW. PLAYING I DON’T HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT’S BEEN SHARED WITH ME THAT THE UNIONS BEHIND SUPERINTENDENT DR DENISE CARLIN REFUSING, THOUGH TO SAY JUST HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. WE’VE HEARD OVER 100. IS THAT ABOUT? I I DON’T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW. I DON’T. I’VE HEARD A COUPLE OF DOZEN FOR WHAT TYPES OF THINGS ARE KIDS GETTING SUSPENDED. IF YOU JUMP THE FENCE. >> AND LEFT CAMPUS ARE YOU WALKED OUT DOOR? AND LEFT CAMPUS AND YOU CREATED UNSAFE SITUATION. NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR OTHER STUDENTS. WE’RE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THAT. WHAT PROOF IS THERE? THEY ACTUALLY HAD THE ABILITY TO WRITE DOWN PEOPLE’S NAMES WHEN THEY SAW THINGS THAT WERE THAT WERE INAPPROPRIATE. THEY’RE ALSO VIDEOS ARE UP AGAINST THESE TYPES OF DEMONSTRATIONS THAT I AM NOT OKAY WITH UNSAFE SITUATIONS WITH PEOPLE. REEF CHILDREN REFUSING TO LISTEN TO THE ADULTS IN OUR BUILDING. DO YOU THINK YOU’RE TAKING A HARD LINE APPROACH ON THIS? I’M VERY CLEAR. WE ARE ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING. NOW THE SUPERINTENDENT TELLS ME THAT DEMONSTRATIONS MADE SOME STUDENTS FEEL UNSAFE. SHE ALSO TELLS ME THE DISTRICT IS REEVALUATING ITS APPROACH. >> JUST IN CASE THERE ARE ANY MORE WALKOUTS THAT A CLOSE SHE TOLD YOU THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING SHE IT EXPECT MORE SUSPENSIONS CASE. SHE SAID THAT THERE WILL BE MORE SUSPENSIONS. THEY’RE REVIEWING SOME VIDEO. THEY’RE REVIEWING EYEWITNESSES. SO ONCE THEY GET ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, THEY SAW

Dozens of Lee County students have been suspended after participating in protests against ICE arrests at local high schools, with more than 3,600 students involved across 14 schools.Students at Cape Coral High, Ida Baker, and North Fort Myers walked out of classes, holding signs and chanting against ICE. “It was mostly unity that we want to show,” said Kendall Mariner. Jaylen added, “We walked around the school protesting, saying what we feel.”State Sen. Jonathan Martin claimed in Tallahassee that school teachers were involved in organizing the walkouts, although he provided no evidence. “I’ve heard accusations from just my district in Lee County that school teachers were helping organize political speech in the walkout,” Martin said.Teachers’ union president Kevin Daly challenged Martin to provide proof, saying, “I would like for him to show how TALC organized or planned.”Lee Schools Superintendent Denise Carlin stated, “I don’t have any information provided to me that shows the union is behind it.” Carlin did not confirm the number of students suspended, saying, “I don’t have those numbers right now. I don’t. I’ve heard a couple of dozen.”Carlin explained that students were suspended for actions such as jumping fences and leaving campus, which created unsafe situations. “If you jumped the fence and left campus, or you walked out a door and left campus and created an unsafe situation, not only for yourself but other students … we’re not going to put up with that,” she said. The district is using videos and written reports to identify students involved in inappropriate actions during the protests.Carlin emphasized the importance of safety and discipline, stating, “I am NOT okay with unsafe situations and children refusing to listen to the adults in our building.” She added, “I’m very clear! We are about teaching and learning.”The superintendent noted that the demonstrations made some students feel unsafe and that the district is re-evaluating its approach in case of future walkouts. The investigation is ongoing, and more suspensions are likely as the district reviews videos of the demonstrations.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Dozens of Lee County students have been suspended after participating in protests against ICE arrests at local high schools, with more than 3,600 students involved across 14 schools.

Students at Cape Coral High, Ida Baker, and North Fort Myers walked out of classes, holding signs and chanting against ICE. “It was mostly unity that we want to show,” said Kendall Mariner. Jaylen added, “We walked around the school protesting, saying what we feel.”

State Sen. Jonathan Martin claimed in Tallahassee that school teachers were involved in organizing the walkouts, although he provided no evidence. “I’ve heard accusations from just my district in Lee County that school teachers were helping organize political speech in the walkout,” Martin said.

Teachers’ union president Kevin Daly challenged Martin to provide proof, saying, “I would like for him to show how TALC organized or planned.”

Lee Schools Superintendent Denise Carlin stated, “I don’t have any information provided to me that shows the union is behind it.” Carlin did not confirm the number of students suspended, saying, “I don’t have those numbers right now. I don’t. I’ve heard a couple of dozen.”

Carlin explained that students were suspended for actions such as jumping fences and leaving campus, which created unsafe situations. “If you jumped the fence and left campus, or you walked out a door and left campus and created an unsafe situation, not only for yourself but other students … we’re not going to put up with that,” she said. The district is using videos and written reports to identify students involved in inappropriate actions during the protests.

Carlin emphasized the importance of safety and discipline, stating, “I am NOT okay with unsafe situations and children refusing to listen to the adults in our building.” She added, “I’m very clear! We are about teaching and learning.”

The superintendent noted that the demonstrations made some students feel unsafe and that the district is re-evaluating its approach in case of future walkouts. The investigation is ongoing, and more suspensions are likely as the district reviews videos of the demonstrations.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.