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Students urge Lee County board to restore Latinos in Action program after abrupt removal
Summary
Dozens of students and parents from multiple schools told the Lee County School Board on May 6 that the Latinos in Action program offered leadership, cultural connection and inclusivity, and they urged the district to reverse a sudden cancellation on April 10.
Students from Diplomat Middle School, Ida Baker High School and other Lee County campuses told the School Board of Lee County on May 6 that removing the Latinos in Action (LIA) program has left many students without a trusted leadership and cultural-identity space.
“The class was our safe space, our new home,” said Jocelyn Garcia, an eighth-grader at Diplomat Middle School, speaking during the public comment period. Several other students, including Kenzie Vickers and Catherine Diaz, described how the program offered leadership training, community service and cultural education while welcoming students of many backgrounds.
Why it matters: Students and parents said LIA helped improve attendance, behavior and academic outcomes for participating students and provided leadership pathways. Multiple speakers said the program’s abrupt removal on April 10 deprived students of opportunities to build identity and community and urged the district to reinstate it or provide an equivalent leadership program.
What participants told the board: Students said LIA was inclusive in practice even if the name focused on Latino culture. “Latinos in Action is a program that isn’t about exclusion, but inclusion,” said Kenzie Vickers, identified as a vice president of the Diplomat Middle School chapter. Others noted petitions with more than 200 signatures asking for reinstatement and related advocacy.
Parent and community input: Several parents and community members echoed student statements and asked the board to revisit the decision. They urged administrators to consider the program’s role in building leadership and lowering disruptive behavior among participants.
Board response and limits: Board members thanked students for speaking but said the district must comply with current law and policy when forming courses and electives. The board did not announce a reinstatement at the May 6 meeting but several members, including Board Member Giovanelli, said they heard the students’ passion and that the superintendent was looking into alternative options that comply with legal constraints.
Bottom line: Students and families asked the board to restore Latinos in Action or create a lawful alternative leadership and cultural program. The board acknowledged the concerns but did not adopt a change at the May 6 meeting.
