Parents, students and local leaders urge Hendry County School Board to save LaBelle fire academy and CTE classes

Dozens of students, parents and local officials pressed the Hendry County School Board to preserve the LaBelle High School Fire Academy and related career-technical education (CTE) classes, saying the programs build discipline, character and job skills that are not captured by traditional classroom measures.

Parents and students spoke during the board’s public-comment period, urging the board not to cut the honor guard, fire academy instructor Captain Snell’s position or the construction/trades classes. “It’s taught character. It’s taught me I can do things that I didn’t originally think I could do,” student Jacob Bishal said. Parent Rebecca Perkins said the instructor “stepped up when no one else did” for her child and other students.

The testimony included several…