THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO KEEP KIDS SAFE ONLINE.

HOW MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES ARE USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE ALL OF THE USERS MEET THE AGE RESTRICTIONS FROM CUTTING TEACHERS ARE REMOVING SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE CHANGES BEING IMPLEMENTED.

THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SCHOOLS LEAVING SOME PARENTS UP IN ARMS AND AN ENTREPRENEUR OR AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.

MEET A 9 YEAR-OLD USING HER CREATIVITY TO GIVE BACK AND HELP SAVE SEA TURTLES.

HELLO, I'M MIKE WALTER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 95% OF AMERICAN TEENAGERS USE AT LEAST ONE THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH IN FLORIDA.

CHILDREN UNDER 14 ARE PROHIBITED FROM OPENING A NEW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT.

AND ANY CHILD BETWEEN 14 AND 15 YEARS OF AGE NEEDS PARENTAL PERMISSION.

BUT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES ARE COMING UNDER SCRUTINY FOR FAILING TO PREVENT UNDERAGE USERS FROM BYPASSING THOSE AGE RESTRICTIONS.

JUST LAST WEEK, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION SOUND THAT META, THE PARENT COMPANY OF FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM WAS IN BREACH OF THE EUROPEAN.

THE SERVICES ACT FAILED TO PREVENT MINORS FROM USING THEIR SERVICES WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED THE COMPANY IS NOW TURNING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ENSURE ALL ACTIVE ACCOUNTS, OUR AGE APPROPRIATE.

>> SO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS BEING USED TO KEEP KIDS SAFE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I'M JOINED BY GEN HANLEY, THE HEAD OF NORTH AMERICAN SAFETY WITH META.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

SO JUST LAST WEEK, THE EUROPEAN UNION FOUND META IN BREACH OF ITS DIGITAL SERVICES ACT FAILING TO PREVENT MINORS FROM USING INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK.

>> SO HOW DOES INCORPORATING AI ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING THESE ACCOUNTS?

>> YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME WORKING TO FIND AND REMOVE UNDERAGE ACCOUNTS FROM OUR PLATFORMS.

YOU HAVE TO BE 13 AND OVER TO USE FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY THAT ARE ALLOWING US TO REALLY STRENGTHEN OUR WORK TO DETECT AND REMOVE THOSE ACCOUNTS.

AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS, BUT AI IS HELPING US.

IT'S REALLY HELPING US LOOK ACROSS ACCOUNTS AT THINGS MORE THAN JUST LIKE AN ADMISSION THAT SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, MIGHT SAY I'M 12 YEARS OLD, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE NOW ABLE TO USE AI TO LOOK AT CAN TEXTUAL CLUES, INFORMATION SUCH AS SOMEONE POSTING ABOUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY WITH WITH AGES.

WHAT GRADE THEY'RE IN.

AND WERE EVEN ABLE TO USE VISUAL ANALYSIS NOW TO HELP THOSE THESE ARE ONGOING EFFORTS.

THESE AREN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP TO ONE PARTICULAR THING WE'VE REALLY BEEN WORKING AT THIS FOR MANY YEARS.

EYES IS REALLY HELPING STRENGTHEN THIS WORK.

>> SO WHEN ANYONE SIGNS UP FOR AN ACCOUNT, THEY CAN EASILY BYPASSED THE AGE RESTRICTIONS BY SIMPLY STAYING.

THEY'RE OLDER THAN THEY ARE.

SO ARE YOU MORE ATTACKING THE ACCOUNT ALREADY THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE AND THEN USING AI TO VERIFY THOSE ACCOUNTS AND THEN MAYBE GET THEM OFF THE PLATFORMS AFTER THE FACT.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING AGES, MULTIFACETED.

WE HAVE A MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

SO WE DO HAVE THAT AGE AT SIGN UP.

BUT WE DO ARE ALSO INVESTING IN THESE SYSTEMS, KIND OF WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES SO SOMEONE MIGHT PUT THEIR AGENT AT SIGN UP.

AND THEN YOU KNOW, WE DO KNOW SOME TEENS MISREPRESENT THEIR AGE.

THEY MAY TRY TO SAY THAT THEY'RE AN ADULT, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO WE HAVE WORKED TO DEVELOP SYSTEMS THAT LOOK FOR SIGNALS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE SAYING THEY'RE AN ADULT BUT ACTUALLY BE THE YOUNGER.

WE HAVE TEAM ACCOUNT PROTECTIONS FOR TEENS.

THESE ARE REALLY GREAT TEAM DEFAULT EXPERIENCES THERE.

SAFEGUARDS WE HAVE IN PLACE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW SOMEONE IS A TEEN IN ORDER TO PUT THEM INTO OUR TEEN ACCOUNT EXPERIENCES.

SO WE'RE USING AI AGAIN TO LOOK AT SOME OF MISREPRESENTING THAT BIRTHDATE AND THEIR OTHER SIGNALS SUCH AS THE AGE OF PEOPLE, THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH THE TYPE OF CONTENT.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT ARE OTHER THINGS.

WE'RE TRAINING OUR SYSTEMS TO DETECT THAT SO THAT WE CAN THEN PUT THEM INTO THE TEEN ACCOUNT SETTINGS, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO THERE'S A LOT WE'RE DOING TO INVEST AND TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO TRY TO FIND THOSE WHO MIGHT BE MISREPRESENTED THEIR AGE TO EITHER DEACTIVATE THEIR ACCOUNTS, REMOVING THEM FROM THE PLATFORM OR TO PUT THEM IN THOSE STRICTER SETTINGS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR TEENS.

>> AND THEN OTHER ANY OTHER SAFEGUARDS CAN BE PUT IN PLACE.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU KNOW, CHILD SIGNS UP OR A TEENAGER IS LIKE THEIR APPARENT AS THE COASTLINE TO BE A JOINT ON THEIR ACCOUNT OR ALL THESE FULLY INDEPENDENT FOR TEENS UNDER THE TEEN SETTINGS THAT YOU HAVE.

>> SO WE ARE TEEN ACCOUNT SETTINGS ARE FOR TEENS, THEIR DEFAULT PROTECTIONS.

TEAMS ARE AUTOMATICALLY PLACED INTO THE INTO THE ACCOUNTS.

APPARENT ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE UNLESS THEY WANT TO.

SO THEY HAVE MESSAGING RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.

PRIVACY RESTRICTIONS, CONTENT RESTRICTIONS WHEN THEY'RE IN THE TEEN ACCOUNTS FOR PARENTS WHO WANT TO DO MORE.

WE HAVE PARENTAL SUPERVISION TOOLS.

PARENTS CAN GET INSIGHTS INTO A LOT OF ACTIVITY ACROSS ACCOUNT LIKE WHO THAT HE HAS BEEN MESSAGING WITH.

PARENTS CAN SET TIME RESTRICTIONS SO TIMES OF DAY OR, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN SAY AT AT NIGHTTIME ARE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, YOU CAN'T USE INSTAGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN ONLY USE IT FOR 15 MINUTES PER DAY.

SO WE HAVE THESE DEFAULT PROTECTIONS WITH 2 COUNTS.

WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS AND IN PLACE FOR IT THAT PARENTS CAN USE WITH PARENTAL SUPERVISION.

TOOLS AND OVERALL, WE THINK SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT IS ACTUALLY TO HAVE PARENTS BE ABLE TO APPROVE WHAT APPS THEIR TEENS WANT TO DOWNLOAD SO THEY CAN SAY YES OR NO TO DOWNLOADING APPS LIKE INSTAGRAM OR THE MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT TEENS ARE USING ONLINE.

>> AND THEN ONCE TEAMS ARE OF AGE CAN GET THEIR ACCOUNTS.

THERE ARE STILL PARENTS THAT HAVE FEARS OF THEIR KIDS USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT.

CYBER BILLY BULLYING.

SO HAS YOUR WORK OF THE HEAD OF SAFETY.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO HELP KEEP USERS OUT OF HARM'S WAY AND GIVE PARENTS AT EASE OF MIND IF THERE'S CHILDREN ARE USING FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

AND SO WE THERE'S A LOT THAT WE DO IN TERMS OF THOSE TEEN ACCOUNTS, THE PARENTAL SUPERVISION TOOLS AND WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES.

WE HAVE A FAMILY CENTER.

SO THE META FAMILY CENTER IS REALLY A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PARENTS.

IT PROVIDES A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR THEM, BUT ALSO MANY CREATE RESOURCES TO HELP EDUCATE PARENTS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE TOOLS THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR TEENS AND EVEN CONVERSATION STARTERS FROM EXPERTS THAT WE WORK WITH.

AND RIGHT NOW, EVEN WITH THIS, THIS AGE INSURANCE MOMENT THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE ACTUALLY NOTIFYING PARENTS AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT, YOU KNOW, A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST HELPED US RIGHT AND HELP SCRIPT FOR US SO THAT PARENTS CAN TALK TO THEIR TEENS ABOUT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING, AGE ONLINE AND BEING IN THAT AGE, APPROPRIATE MET.

HIS FAMILY CENTER IS A REALLY GREAT STARTING PLACE.

PARENTS ARE OVERWHELMED.

THERE'S LOTS OF INFORMATION OUT THERE.

WE WANT TO MAKE THIS EASY AND GIVE THEM PEACE OF MIND.

AND THAT'S WHY WE BUILT THE TOOLS AND PROTECTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

AND WE HAVE RESOURCES FOR THEM AS WELL.

>> SO WITH THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE COMING DOWN FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION THAT WILL HELP GUIDELINE.

I'M SURE YOU'RE PROTOCOLS AND SAFETY STANDARDS MOVING FORWARD.

WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO SEE THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA GOING, ESPECIALLY AS MORE AND MORE TEENS ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS JUST BECOMES PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE OF HAVING THESE ACCOUNTS.

>> YEAH.

SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO ANY SPECIFICS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS WE DO THINK THERE'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE THAT GOVERNMENTS CAN PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING AGE.

WE ARE ONE OF SO MANY DIFFERENT APPS THAT TEENS ARE USING EVERY DAY.

THIS, YOU KNOW, AGE ASSURANCE, UNDERSTAND AGES SOMETHING EVERYONE INDUSTRY IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

WE REALLY DO THINK THAT CENTRALIZING AGE VERIFICATION AND PARENTAL APPROVAL SHOULD HAPPEN AT THE APP STORE.

SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING THAT GOVERNMENTS CAN DO IS REALLY HAVING THAT ONE PLACE WHERE YOU COULD HAVE A CENTRALIZED STANDARDIZED AND REALLY PRIVACY PROTECTIVE WAY TO GET THE AGE VERIFICATION AND THAT PRETZEL APPROVAL SO PARENTS CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHERE THEY WANT THEIR TEENS TO BE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, JEN HALEY FROM ED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US TODAY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP, MAJOR CHANGES ARE HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

A LACK OF STATE FUNDING.

PLUS MOST A BUDGET.

WE'RE HAVING A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT ON STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

FOR MANY PARENTS, THE COST OF AFTER-SCHOOL CHILDCARE CAN BE A SIZABLE EXPENSE IN FLORIDA.

THE AVERAGE COST FOR A STUDENT TO ATTEND AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM COULD BE 50 TO $60 PER CHILD PER WEEK, BUT AS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS REPORTER ELIZABETH AND RG LEARNED ONE FORT MYERS SCHOOL FORMED A PARTNERSHIP THAT NOT ONLY KEEPS THE KIDS ENTERTAINED BUT KEEPS LEARNING EXPERIENCE GOING AS WELL.

AND WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL COST TO THE PARENTS.

>> EVERY AFTERNOON A VAN PULLS UP OUTSIDE.

I'M AG HISTORY AND SCIENCE CENTER DOORS OPEN AND OUT COMES KIDS FROM FRANKLIN PARK ELEMENTARY BACKPACKS, SNEAKERS READY TO GO.

THIS IS THEIR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND IT DOESN'T COST THEIR FAMILIES.

>> THING THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT >> TSAI AND THEY'RE DOING TECHNOLOGY TYPE THINGS.

THEY'RE GOING ALL TYPES OF PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS THAT THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO AND PROGRAMS THAT WE DO PROVIDE AT THE SCHOOL.

>> FRANKLIN PARK, PRINCIPAL ME A GERMAN SHARES, THE IMAC FRANKLIN PARKS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

AND UNITED WAY BUILT SOMETHING UNIQUE, FREE TRANSPORTATION, FREE PROGRAMMING, FREE SNACKS.

EVERY DAY UNTIL 06:00PM INSIDE KITS MOVED TO THE MUSEUM LIKE IT BELONGS TO THEM FOR A FEW HOURS EVERY DAY.

IT KIND OF THOSE.

NOBODY KNOWS THIS BETTER THAN AND TRAVIS ARCHBOLD.

>> AND ONE THING ABOUT A MOUNTAIN MAN BACK IN WITH THAT.

THAT'S SO LOW.

EVEN DURING THE SUMMER.

BUT YOU CAN'T GET THE SHOT.

IRAQ'S ALLOWABLE TODAY HAVE PEOPLE ARE YEAH CORRECTLY WRONG.

WE'RE ONLY AT AROUND 05:00AM WRONG.

NO, I'M HERE.

>> AND WHAT ISLAND IS THAT ONE OF THE THEORIES IS THAT.

>> WE STARTED DEVELOPING FROM THE HEAD TO THE LAKES AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT REALLY DEVELOP IS OUR FINGERS AND OUR TOES.

>> THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

THE LEARNING SNEAKS UP ON YOU.

JAYLA OUTLAW CAME HERE FOR THE SCIENCE.

SHE LEFT THAT SOMETHING ELSE TOO.

>> I MEAN, TIME AND WE GET BY WITH THE BLOCKS AND WE GET TO PLAY LOOK LIKE A LITTLE LIKE ALONE AHL'S AND THE PLAY TAG THERE.

AND WE HAVE A LIKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF ON.

AND I HAVE FUN WITH MY QUIET TIME TO CAUSE.

AND THAT CAN JUST FEEL LIKE REALLY FOCUS MY HOMEWORK AND GET IT.

AND >> FOR FAMILIES OF FRANKLIN PARK, THIS PROGRAM IS BUILT ON A PARTNERSHIP.

THE BELIEVES EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M ELISBETH ANDARGE >> FREE.

AFTER-SCHOOL SERVICES MAY BE MUCH NEEDED DUE TO BUDGET CONCERNS SURROUNDING A LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

AND FOR MORE ON THESE FINANCIAL ISSUES, WE'RE JOINED BY WJC YEARS.

DANA HARPSTER, THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT STRUGGLING WITH THE BUDGET NOW CUTTING TEACHERS AND PROGRAMS.

SO WHAT WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> THE LEE DISTRICT IS FACING A LARGE BUDGET DEFICIT OF ABOUT 46 MILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S REALLY ACTUALLY 92 MILLION WITHOUT THEIR A PLEDGE TO MOVE.

46 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND FROM ITS RESERVES.

THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THIS DECLINING ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS LARGELY DUE TO THE STATEWIDE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PRIVATE AND HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES.

BUT AS OF 2023 ARE NO LONGER LIMITED BY FAMILY INCOME.

IN FACT, I HEARD A COLLIER COUNTY BOARD MEMBER ILLUSTRATE THIS BY SAYING TOM BRADY'S KIDS CAN GET VOUCHERS.

SO SOME EXTRA COVID MONEY THAT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

PLAYS INTO THE IRONICALLY, DESPITE GOVERNOR SANTIS TO CLAIM THAT FLORIDA IS THE EDUCATION STATE AS HE DECLARED BY A SIGN ON THE PODIUM AT LAST FRIDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN FORT MYERS, A FUNDING LEVEL, THE STATE FROM THE STATE THAT MOST AGREES INSUFFICIENT.

CUT TO BEING MADE BY INDIVIDUAL PRINCIPALS.

NOW IN LEE COUNTY WITH SUPERINTENDENT DENISE KARLYNN DECLARING VETO POWER OVER THEM.

WE WON'T KNOW FOR SURE HOW MANY TEACHERS ARE OUT OF JOBS ARE WHAT CORRESPONDING PROGRAMS ARE CUT UNTIL LEGAL DEADLINE OF MAY.

11TH FOR NOTIFYING TEACHERS OF NON RENEWALS.

>> AND COLLIER COUNTY IS ALSO EXPERIENCING SOME SOLAR PROBLEMS COMPOUNDED BY THOSE REACH AN IMPASSE BETWEEN THE TEACHERS UNION.

THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE SCHOOL BOARD ABOUT SALARIES.

THAT WAS RESOLVE FRIDAY.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY IS PARTICULARLY HAPPY.

>> NOW THAT ALL THE TEACHERS, WE'RE ALL DRESSED IN RED SHIRTS AND ATTENDED THE SESSION AND WALKED OUT PRETTY MUCH WHEN THE BORDER MADE ITS VOTE AND THE TEACHERS UNION, THEY PACKED THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AROUND.

THEY HEARD THE OUTCOME OF THE IMPASSE BETWEEN THE UNION AND ADMINISTRATION.

THE DISAGREEMENT WAS LONGSTANDING AND REQUIRED A MAGISTRATE TO ARBITRATE AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR MOVING AHEAD WITH THE CONTRACT.

THE RESULT WAS THE MAGISTRATE RECOMMENDING THE FOR WHICH THE BOARD APPROVED.

THEN.

SO WHILE TEACHERS ARE GETTING A RAISE OF 3.6%, WHICH TRANSLATES TO $1480 TO THE BASE PAY WITH MOST TEACHERS RACE RATED HIGHLY EFFECTIVE RECEIVING $2,360.

IT'S NOW WHAT THEY WANTED AND PASSIONATELY ARGUED FOR, WHICH WAS 300 EXCUSE ME, $3,290 OVER THE PREVIOUS $57,000 BAY STARTING PAY ONE EYE OPENING REASON THEY CITED IS THAT COLLIER COUNTY IS FLORIDA'S MOST EXPENSIVE COUNTY IN WHICH TO LIVE, EVEN THOUGH TEACHERS THEY'RE PAID AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.

THEY MAINTAIN THEIR STRUGGLING DUE TO HOUSING COST OF LIVING AND MEDICAL EXPENSES.

BUT THE SYSTEM MORE THAN 53 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT GOING INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FOR BASICALLY THE SAME REASONS THAT WE COUNTY SITE.

AND REALLY ALL OF THE SCHOOL BUDGET PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING AS SHOTS IN THE DARK BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATURE STILL HAS AN APPROVED BUDGET.

AS IT IS.

FLORIDA RANKS 50TH AMONG THE STATES IN PER CAPITA STUDENT FUNDING.

UNFORTUNATELY, ALL THESE BUDGET TROUBLES ARE BEING FELT ALL OVER THE STATE WITH VARYING SEVERITY, INCLUDING SOME DISTRICTS HAVING TO CLOSE SCHOOLS OR EVEN HAVING TO COME UNDER STATE CONTROL.

ONE BIT OF GOOD NEWS IS HAPPENING ON THE SCHOOL.

BE AT LEAST GOOD FOR THE PARENTS.

>> AND FRIENDS OF BUCKINGHAM EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL IN LEE COUNTY.

WHAT WAS A NEWS THERE?

YES, IT WAS A ROUGH APRIL FOR THESE PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF BUCKINGHAM SCHOOL.

>> WHICH EDUCATES CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS IN LEE COUNTY EARLY IN THE MONTH, PARENTS RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THEIR CHILDREN, STAFF AND EQUIPMENT, ALL OF THAT WOULD BE RELOCATED TO WELCOME EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL, WHICH EDUCATES CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

PARENTS QUICKLY ORGANIZE AND ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE AT ROYAL PALM AND REALIZE THAT ROYAL PALM WAS REALLY NOT NEARLY ACCESSIBLE FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

WHO WOULD SUFFER IN THE MOVE.

SO THEY FLOODED A BOARD MEETING BEGAN A PETITION AND CONTACTED BOARD MEMBERS EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS.

ULTIMATELY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LISTENED BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

THEY RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THE PROPOSED MOVE WAS PAUSED.

NOW THEY'RE CONSIDERING TRYING TO CONVERT TO A CHARTER SCHOOL.

I ASSUME NOT TO BE SUBJECT TO ANY FURTHER INTERFERENCE AS THEY SEE IT FROM LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ONE MORE THING TO KNOW YESTERDAY, THE FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, THE STATE'S LARGEST TEACHERS UNION FILED SUIT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CLAIMING THE BACHELOR SYSTEM IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS THAT SUPPORTS ARE NOT UP TO THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND TRANSPARENCY DEFINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

IT'S A LOT TO KEEP FOR SUGAR.

THANK YOU, DAYNE.

AND WE'LL BE CHECKING BACK WITH YOU FOR MORE ON THE VOUCHERS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING.

THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE EDUCATION STORIES THAT IMPACT STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

>> YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEB SITE AT THE WGC.

YOU DOT ORG.

AND IT SEEMS A PARENT'S JOB IS NEVER GONE.

AND NOW AS THE SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO AN END, THAT MEANS MORE SPORTS BEGIN THEIR SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR KIDS TRYING OUT A NEW SPORT OR EVEN THE SEASON TRAVELING ATHLETES, MORE EXPERTS ARE SAYING SPORTSMANSHIP OFF TO BECOME A MAJOR PART OF THE PROGRAM WHO USED TO THE BURN HAS MORE.

>> SPRING SPORTS ARE NOW IN FULL SWING.

AND IF YOUR LITTLE ONE IS PLAYING FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE TEACHING THEM ABOUT SPORTSMANSHIP TO.

>> SOMETHING LIKE SPORTSMANSHIP.

WE HEAR THIS.

WE CAN HEAR THE TERM FOR NOW FOR FOR AN AN AWFUL LOT.

I KNOW YOU CAN SEE IT IN.

AND CERTAINLY STILL HAVE A KATY, BUT THE CODE OF CONDUCT.

AND I THINK THIS IS IT.

THE SPORTSMANSHIP IS THIS KIND OF RULING FOLLOWED.

AND THE TRUTH IS IT'S NOT A RULE.

A SET OF VALUES.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT HOW WE INTERACT, HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE, HOW WE KIND OF OPERATE IN A COMPETITIVE SETTING.

>> DR.

MATTHEW SACCO IS A SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST AT CLEVELAND CLINIC.

HE SAYS THE EARLIER YOU CAN TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT SPORTSMANSHIP, THE BETTER THAT WAY, THOSE VALUES BECOME SECOND NATURE TO THEM.

SO WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SPORTSMANSHIP?

IT'S LITTLE THINGS LIKE BEING A TEAM PLAYER SHAKING HANDS AFTER THE GAME.

NOT ARGUING WITH THE REFEREE AND KEEPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

DOCTOR SACCO REMINDS PARENTS THAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WATCHING.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO PRACTICE THOSE VALUES AS WELL.

>> WHETHER YOU'RE A PARENT WITH YOUR PARENT COACH OR EVEN A COACH.

WHAT YOUR?

THEY'VE YEARS.

OUR MODELING.

THEY'RE SEEN.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU YOU MAY NOT BE FRUSTRATED HIM IN A PRESS.

YOU KNOW, EVERY ACTIVELY COMES SORT OF APPOINTMENT.

BUT RESPONSIBILITY.

THERE IS MORE WHERE KIDS ARE GOING TO FEED OFF THAT BIG.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S SEEN OF HER.

AND THAT ENERGY IS CONTAGIOUS.

>> DR SACCO SAYS WHEN YOUR CHILD ACTS OUT DURING A GAME RESIST THE URGE TO STEP IN, LET THE COACH ADDRESS.

AT FIRST THEY ARE THE AUTHORITY FIGURE IN THAT SPACE.

IF THE BEHAVIOR STILL NEEDS A FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION AT HOME, HE RECOMMENDS WAITING A FULL 24 HOURS THAT WAY.

IT GIVES THE PARENT AND CHILD A CHANCE TO COOL DOWN IF NEEDED FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M TEDDY BYRNE.. >> AND AFTER THE BREAK, HOW A 9 YEAR-OLD HAS SET UP SHOP TO SUPPORT OUR SEA TURTLE POPULATION AND WHY SHE DECIDED HER CREATIVITY COULD HELP TO SAVE THEIR NEST.

IT'S THE FIRST WEEK OR SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND WDSU, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS IS HERE.

TOM, WELCOME CAUGHT MY EYE.

I FELT UNDERSTAND YOU FOUND A CHAMPION FOR THE TURTLES THIS YEAR.

I CERTAINLY DID.

>> MIKE, THIS YEAR, THE THOUSANDS OF LOGGERHEADS AND GREENS THAT NEST IN OUR BEACHES ARE GETTING SOME HELP FROM AN UNLIKELY ALLY.

A 9 YEAR OLD.

SHE'S YOUNG AND EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT.

AND NOW SHE'S AN ENTREPRENEUR.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET NAOMI AND SHE TOLD ME HOW SHE'S COMBINED TAKING CARE OF SEA TURTLES WHILE SHOWING HER CREATIVITY AND HER BUSINESS SAVVY.

>> AND HEALING HAS SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING TO SHARE.

IT IS SPONSORING A BILL.

CJ LAST.

THAT MEANS I'M HELPING PROTECT BABY SEA TURTLES, BUT THANK OUT AND GET READY TO HOT.

>> THAT'S NAOMI.

HANG THEM ON FACEBOOK.

EXCITEDLY TELLING THE WORLD ABOUT TURTLE TREASURES, HER JEWELRY BUSINESS, RAISING MONEY FOR SEA TURTLE NON PROFITS.

SHE SOLD $600 OVER HANDMADE NAUTICAL THEMED HEARINGS IN HER FIRST 6 WEEKS.

THAT ALLOWED NAOMI TO ADOPT SEA TURTLE NESTS WITH THE NORTH CAPTIVA SEA TURTLE FOUNDATION AND ANOTHER IN PORT SAINT JOE IN THE PANHANDLE ADOPTING A NEST IS AKIN TO A SPONSORSHIP.

>> SUE, I'M GOING TO GET PITCHES OF THE BABIES TITLES.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW YOU.

>> NAOMI IS NOT ONLY HER OWN BEST SPOKESPERSON.

SHE'S THE JEWELRY CREATOR INVENTORY SUPERVISOR, GRAPHIC ARTIST MERCHANDISE PHOTOGRAPHER ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE CHARITY COORDINATOR AND SERVES AS WHAT COUNTS AS HER OWN CEO.

THE HOME-SCHOOLED 9 YEAR-OLD IS ALSO THE SUPERVISOR OF SALES.

SHE'S SELLING EARRINGS ON THE TABLE ON THE PORCH OUTSIDE HER CAPE CORAL HOME DEVOTING SPACE ONLINE WITH PHOTOS AND ORDER FORMS FOR TURTLE TREASURES, CUSTOM EARRINGS AND AS SHE WALKS TO A NEARBY PARK WITH HER DISPLAY CASE FILLED WITH EARRINGS TO MAKE SALES $6 PREPARE BY 3 AT ONCE AND GET A NICE DISCOUNT.

THAT'S EVEN PART OF HER SALES PITCH.

>> RIGHT NOW I'M WITH YOU.

TURN ADOPTING ANOTHER NASA.

I CAN HELP EVEN MORE SEAGER'S TO BACK.

>> PART OF A MILITARY FAMILY WITH 6 CHILDREN AND A BROTHER OR SISTER ON THE WAY NAOMI FEEL IN LOVE WITH SEA TURTLES SWIMMING IN WATERS OFF OKINAWA WHEN SHE WAS A VERY LITTLE GIRL ON THAT DAY, IT WAS THE HEIGHT OF TURTLE MATING SEASON AND THE ANIMALS FILLED THE CRYSTAL BLUE WATERS.

SHE TELLS THE STORY OF HUNDREDS OF THEM SWIMMING ALL AROUND HER.

NAOMI ISN'T QUITE SURE IF SHE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE ADVENTURE OR IF YOUR DAD'S MANY RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EVENT HAVE MADE THE MEMORY MORE REAL.

NOT THAT IT MATTERS BECAUSE SEA TURTLES ARE ON HER MIND ALL THE TIME.

>> HE WENT TO THE KINDNESS AND HELPS AC TRUST TO EVERY PAIR HAD.

HE CHOSE IN THEIR HOMES.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING IT.

ATTACHES FREE.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NAOMI AND FOR A LINK TO HER ONLINE STORE SEE WGCU DOT ORG.

>> HOW WHAT AN AMAZING.

9 YEAR-OLD TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

NOW THAT WE ARE THE TURTLE NESTING SEASON.

TOM, HOW ABOUT SOME REMINDERS FOR ALL OF US HOW WE SHOULD THE AROUND THE BEACHES.

WELL, YOU KNOW, NOW THE TURTLES ARE NESTING ARE TAKING THEIR HOLES AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> USUALLY IT'S AT NIGHT.

THEY CROSS SURE THE MAMA TURTLES.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

LEAVE THEM ALONE.

JUST STAY AWAY.

DO USE FLASH CAMERAS JUST LET THEM BE.

AFTER THEY LEAVE THEIR NESTS STAYING AWAY FROM THE NEST WHO THEY'RE USUALLY MARKED WITH YELLOW TAPE AND SOME AND SINCE SOME OF THE POLLS AND JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE.

AND OF COURSE, IF YOU LIVE ALONG THE BEACH, MAKE SURE THAT YOU TURN OUT YOUR LIGHTS, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT DRAW THE TURTLE TOWARDS YOU BECAUSE LITTLE BIT LITTLE HATCHLINGS WHEN THEY DO COME OUT OF THE NEST HERE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THEY LOOK FOR THE MOON OVER THE WATER OR SOMETHING BRIGHT AT NIGHT.

AND IF THE LIGHTS ARE ON THIS WAY, THEY'RE GOING TO CALL ON LAND AND THEY DIE AND MASK WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO HEAD TOWARDS STREETS.

ABSOLUTELY.

STREAMLINES ISN'T SHOWING AND NOT.

>> TO THE TO THE WAS IF YOU LIVE, IF YOU LIVE ON THE BEACH OR ANYWHERE NEAR IT.

>> MAKE SURE YOU SHUT YOUR LIGHTS OFF TO FACE THE BEACH IN AND PUT BLACKOUT CURTAINS SO YOU CAN HAVE PLENTY LIGHT INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, BUT IT WON'T DROP THE TURTLES THE WRONG WAY.

ALL RIGHT.

GREAT ADVICE.

THANK YOU.

THANKS, TOM.

THANK YOU, MIKE.

>> NEXT BROADCAST.

>> WE'LL TELL YOU A NEW ART EXHIBIT CAPTURES THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARKS.

BUT THESE PICTURES FROM ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHER ANSEL ADAMS ALSO COM WAS A DARK SECRET ABOUT AMERICA'S PAST.

WELL, THANKS FOR JOINING US TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THE WGCU DOT ORG, WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLEASE HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.