COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Collier County Public School (CCPS) students returned to the classroom Thursday for the first time since Hurricane Ian hit the area.
NBC2 was at Shadowlawn Elementary School in Naples as parents dropped their kids off.
KC Phillips was dropping off his son. He said he’s thankful the school year is getting back on track.
“Let’s us get back to work, get back to normal, as normal as it can be,” said Phillips.
Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton was there alongside school staff, welcoming the students back.
Patton said no schools had sustainable damage after Hurricane Ian, which played a big role in today’s opening. She hopes it brings a sense of normalcy to the community.
Patton also took a moment to thank the teachers and staff, many of who are also going through their own tragedies after the storm.
“They meet every need you could think of, so when we say we have great employees, we truly mean that…very selfless,” said Patton.
To help lessen the burden on families, all CCPS students can get breakfast and lunch for free through Oct. 31.
The district said mental health resources are available for both students and staff.
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