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Board adopts revised policies including change to transportation policy barring siblings from ESE buses
Summary
The board adopted revised board policies (effective Nov. 5) including a change to policy 8600 that specifies siblings of students receiving special transportation (ESE shuttles) shall not ride that special transportation. Board members and transportation staff discussed a transition plan for families.
The Lee County School Board on Nov. 4 adopted revised board policies intended to align district rules with statutory changes and best practices; the effective date announced was Nov. 5, 2025. One point of discussion centered on policy 8600 (transportation), which the revised language says "siblings of students receiving special transportation (e.g., ESE shuttles) shall not be allowed to ride the special transportation."
Board member Melissa Giovannelli raised concerns about immediate implementation, saying she could not support adopting the policy that night without assurances about family transition: "I can't support that tonight for that reason. I don't think you just bring that on them overnight like that." Transportation staff and the superintendent responded that the language restores a previously existing policy that had been omitted during a policy-system transition and that staff would implement a transition plan to notify parents and adjust bus stops; staff suggested a transitional target of Dec. 1 to allow accommodations.
No public speakers addressed the policy during the hearing portion. The board moved to adopt the revised policies after discussion.
