Long wait to register students in Collier County

Published: Updated:
Registration wait on Wednesday outside the Collier County Public Schools administration building. (Credit: WINK News)
Registration wait on Wednesday outside the Collier County Public Schools administration building. (Credit: WINK News)

Instead of sitting in a classroom, kicking off a new school year in Collier County, many students are waiting to register. Their parents are stuck in a long line, waiting to make it happen.

Remelda English, a parent, said she has waited outside the administration building for two days. Each day until midnight. She said it is absurd she has to wait for eight to nine hours.

“That’s a workday that somebody could’ve got paid for; rather it was their fault or our fault that’s still too long,” English said. “It has to be a better system. Something isn’t connecting in the system to make it easier for both parties.”

Collier County Public Schools predicted these lines. It opened registration in April and encouraged people through social media, in flyers and phone calls, throughout those five months to get in early.

Chad Oliver, executive communications director at CCPS, compares the situation to the hurricane season in Florida.

“You prepare your house,” Oliver said. “What bigger decision is there than registering your child for school, taking care of his or her education. This is a serious topic.”

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