Hurricane Milton caused major issues across Central Florida.

Lake County School District announced that it is adding another layer of security by equipping its panic-button alert system with cameras.

The shooting happened on March 2, with police receiving calls about shots being fired near the flea market parking lot of the fairgrounds around 10:37 p.m.

When severe weather strikes, Central Florida school districts base their decisions on closures on various criteria.

The annual National Stop Bullying Day is Oct. 11 and is aimed at bringing together students, faculty, and parents to end bullying.

A fatal crash is under investigation near Lake Minneola High School in Lake County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A First Amendment fight about access in school libraries to the children’s book “And Tango Makes Three” has expanded to include the Escambia County school system.

A children’s book author and a group of Lake County parents took their fight over a picture book to federal court on Wednesday, asking a federal judge to keep the book on school library shelves.

Several school districts across Central Florida, including Lake County, are hoping to get results when it comes to filling open positions ahead of the new school year.

A children’s book author and a group of parents filed a federal lawsuit against Lake County Schools over the school board’s decision to restrict access to a children’s book.

Mount Dora Middle School is on lockdown Friday morning after a student reported seeing another student with a weapon, according to district officials.

A school bus leaving Tavares High School was rear-ended on State Road 44, according to Lake County Schools.

As students throughout Central Florida return to class, school administrators are working to improve campus security with the use of technology including mobile panic alert buttons and gun detection systems powered by artificial intelligence.

Despite no longer qualifying districtwide to receive funding for a free meals program, Lake County Schools announced it will continue the program into the 2022-23 school year, providing free breakfasts and lunches to Lake students.

A middle school student was arrested after bringing a loaded gun to campus on Friday, according to Lake County Schools.

A fatal crash is investigated in Lake County.

Lake County’s school board and teacher’s union reached a tentative agreement Thursday regarding the 2021-2022 teacher contract, according to school officials.

Many school districts, including in Central Florida, have reconsidered their mask policies following a Florida judge’s ruling last week that found Gov. Ron DeSantis overstepped his authority by issuing an executive order banning mask mandates,

Round Lake Charter School in Mount Dora announced Monday that it is quarantining its entire sixth-grade class due to an influx of COVID-19 cases and will continue classes virtually for the next couple of weeks, officials said.

The district will offer Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine at high schools across the district.

Marion, Lake and Sumter school districts announced students and staff would be asked to stay home Wednesday.

Community members wanting to voice their opinion during Lake County School Board meetings will now need to do it in person.

Students at Lake County schools have just a few weeks left before they’re no longer required to wear masks while on campus.

Lake County Schools said Wednesday is the last day for parents to submit the district's back-to-school survey for the fall.

It was just 90 minutes after school on Monday, Eustis High School's colorful senior parking lot was transformed into a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination center.

TAVARES, Fla. – Lake County Schools is offering the COVID-19 vaccines to district- and school-based employees who are at least 50 years old. Distribution of the Pfizer vaccine for eligible employees begins Wednesday and runs through Friday. [TRENDING: Massive fire breaks out at Orlando condo complex | 6 Dr. Seuss books canceled | Shaq, the big-time wrestler]The announcement comes one day after Florida Gov. AdThe vaccine is being given only to Lake County Schools’ eligible employees at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 6803 Old Highway 441 in Mount Dora, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. “We are thankful for the partnership we have with the Florida Department of Health in Lake County and are grateful to them and to Gov.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Lake County Schools is teaming up with the Florida Department of Health and Lake County Board of County Commissioners to offer free COVID-19 vaccines to select district employees, according to a news release. Free vaccines will be offered next week to district employees age 65 and older, all school and district nurses and any unlicensed assistive personnel, the medication-trained employees who cover school clinics when nurses are not available. [WATCH: Lake County Schools offering free COVID-19 vaccines to teachers, nurses, others]“I don’t stay at home all the time, I wear my mask but I think I’ll feel better once the second one is done and we are reassured but I’m just grateful,” she said. Meantime, the Orange County school board petitioned Gov. Ron DeSantis again after their request to prioritize school employees in the state vaccination rollout wasn’t granted.

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Some high school students in Lake County are getting a glimpse into the past after unearthing a time capsule. Seniors at Mount Dora High School recently gathered to open the capsule that contained artificats from both 1966 and 2000. [TRENDING: Donald Trump wins Florida | US presidential race results | Floridians vote to raise minimum wage to $15/hour]Officials say the time capsule contained yearbooks, a pager and a letter from President Bill Clinton. Students are now working to create a new capsule with items that will help represent 2020. Anyone who wants to donate items can mail them to Mount Dora High School, 700 N. Highland Street.

CLERMONT, Fla. Just days before the first day of school, Lake County students will have an opportunity to get tested for COVID-19. It's not mandatory for students but the tests are being offered for free. "The whole idea is to be able to start the school year in a way we hope will minimize the risk of the spread of COVID-19 in our schools," Sherri Owens, spokesperson for Lake County Schools said. Student testing will be available Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to noon at East Ridge High School, Eustis High School, Umatilla High School and South Lake High School. The first day of school in Lake County is Aug 24.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. Before the academic year begins, Lake County Schools is offering students and staff the opportunity to take a COVID-19 test for free and receive results in about 10 minutes. The district announced Tuesday afternoon that it had partnered with Adult Medicine of Lake County, the Department of Health in Lake County and Lake County government to make the rapid testing available to any student or employee who would like it. Matt Cady of Adult Medicine of Lake County explained how those rapid tests will help assist the district. With rapid testing, that quarantine period can be drastically reduced for those who are not infected. To read more on the reopening plan for Lake County Schools, click here.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. As preparations continue for the upcoming school year, parents in Lake County are facing a deadline to choose how their child will learn when classes begin. According to district leaders, parents must complete a form with their choice for enrollment by no later than Wednesday. Lake County Schools is offering four options for students in the 2020-21 school year. The choices include traditional learning, Lake Virtual School, Modified Day, which is a blend of in-person and distance learning and Lake Live, which is structured virtual learning that mirrors a traditional schedule. Classes for Lake County students begin on August 24.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. The superintendent of Lake County Schools is recommending that the start date for the upcoming fall semester be pushed back to give teachers more time to prepare for the changes theyll face due to the coronavirus pandemic. If the school board approves the recommendation, the start date will move from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17. The school board is hosting a special meeting Monday morning to finalize reopening plans. Like many other districts locally, Lake County Schools has laid out three learning options from which parents can choose: traditional school, Lake County Virtual School and a modified day that would involve students receiving English and math in person and all other classes virtually. You can read more about the reopening plan here.

As Florida inches closer to reopening schools and sees guests headed back to theme parks, the state continues to report cases of COVID-19 by the thousands. In Florida, a total of 19,334 patients have been hospitalized due to severe cases of the respiratory illness. The new statistics bring Floridas total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 301,810 since the disease was first detected in the state on March 1. The state reported 112 new resident deaths and zero new non-resident death in Florida on Wednesday, making for a cumulative total of 4,521 COVID-19 related resident deaths and 105 non-resident deaths, bringing the overall state death toll to 4,617. Previously, the theme park strongly recommended and encouraged face masks to be worn inside the park, but the use of face coverings will now be mandatory.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. Parents in Lake County have until Monday to indicate how they would prefer their children to learn when schools reopen in August amid the coronavirus pandemic. Lake County Schools is offering different options for families ahead of the school year. The options include:Traditional in-school learningFull-time online learning through Lake County Virtual SchoolModified-day learning, a combination of the two. Parents are being asked to go to the districts website and choose the option they prefer. School officials said the selection of an option does not lock a parent into a decision, but will provide the district with information.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. Schools are preparing to welcome students back in the fall either in person or online. Lake County Schools is offering different options for families ahead of the school year. These options include:Traditional in-school learning,Full-time online learning through Lake County Virtual SchoolModified-day learning, a combination of the two. In preparation for the upcoming school year, Lake County Schools purchased additional Chromebook computers so that every K-12 student can be issued a device. The Osceola County school board approved a similar plan for students in their county earlier this week.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. Lake County school board members held a virtual workshop Monday and presented a reopening draft for their schools in the fall, which includes their safety plan for students and staff. In collaboration with health officials, school officials have established protocols to minimize the spread of COVID-19, with guidelines like:Safe social distancing in classrooms as well as other areas like hallways, gyms, and cafeteriaHand Sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap and water will be available to staff, students and visitorsCleaning protocols will be increased throughout each campus, including replacing air filtersGroup gatherings will be limitedFace coverings will be strongly recommended for students and employeesTemperature checks will be conducted on any student or employee who exhibits any COVID-19 symptoms on any school or district workplaceBoard members also discussed the option of providing virtual lessons for students who may want to take an online route once schools are open at full capacity. Lake County Schools will begin its summer program on July 6th with almost 600 students participating. They say masks are encouraged but not required for staff and students, through social distancing restrictions will be put in place.

LAKE COUNTY Lake County Schools is seeking input from employees, parents and students regarding questions and safety protocols for a return to school in August. The district has created two surveys, one for employees, and another for parents and students. Questions seek input on start dates, safety protocols and distance learning, among other topics. District staff will consider the survey responses as they work collaboratively to develop back-to-school plans, all of which will be subject to directives from Gov. Ron DeSantis, guidance from the CDC and approval from Lake County Emergency Management and Florida Department of Health-Lake County.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – The free meal distribution to students for Lake County Schools will switch to two days a week starting next week. The pickup of the free breakfasts and lunches will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesdays, students will receive two breakfasts and two lunches, according to school officials. School officials said on Thursdays students will receive three breakfasts and three lunches. Lake Schools want to remind parents there will not be a meal pickup on April 10.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A 23-year-old Lake County Schools information technology specialist is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Under Florida law, the 16-year-old boy was legally allowed to consent to sex with 23-year-old Gutierrez but the other teen could not. The 15-year-old boy said that on Halloween, his 16-year-old best friend said he could touch Gutierrez inappropriately and that escalated into more sexual activity, according to the affidavit. Deputies said that on Dec. 18, 2019, Gutierrez contacted the victim and told him to sneak out of his house so the two could have sex in his truck. He was arrested on charges of lewd of lascivious battery and tampering with a victim.