Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Below is an email from Rick Tully conveying the fact that the last two school-district funded positions in the Environmental Education Program have been eliminated. The position I have been honored to hold for 18 years is among those cut. Following Rick’s email is a brief description of this legacy program written by Charles O’Connor. I’ve also included Charles’ words about how the program benefited him as a teacher. Please keep the EE program in your thoughts.

Regards,

Cindy

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From: Tully, Rick

Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 5:49 PM

To All Friends of Environmental Education in Lee County,

As a result of the global economic crisis, the School District of Lee County has needed to make significant cuts to its programs. Along with arts, music, reading, and virtually every facet of District operations, the Environmental Education Program is losing positions. One Helping Teacher position and one Resource Teacher Position have been reduced for the next school year.

The two EE positions that remain in Lee County Schools are the two Resource Teacher positions funded by the Lee County Mosquito Control District. We face the loss or significant reduction of Community Study Units and their field trips, the Monday Group, the Faculty Representatives meetings, classroom presentations, support for recycling training, and the Green Bus programs.

We will continue to work with our remaining resources. The teachers, staff, and students of Lee County are a resilient and resourceful lot. We will be working to find alternative ways to maintain the core of our program until such time as we can again support a District-level staff. Our EE Program has always relied on a tremendous team of community partners. We will continue to collaborate with them as we build the bridge back to a system-wide program. Because of our mutual commitment to the goals of environmental education the EE Program will not disappear.

A first step in improvement is recognizing a need. Please help us to notify all that might be interested about the changes the EE Program is facing. Then please join us as we work to make the most of the resources we do have available. As time and our financial status improve we will work to determine the most effective ways to educate our students on environmental issues.

Please contact me if you have questions or suggestions. Thanks for your continuing support.

Rick Tully, Coordinator: Science & Environmental Education