English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The Polk County School District operates 135 schools; 84 elementary schools, 24 middle schools and 17 high schools. Growth: As development comes to Lake Wales, some residents worry about changes to quality of life. What You Need To Know About Section 504 A Guide for Parents. Polk K12 Parents: Forgot Password? Eligible employees who worked one day more than half the 2020-21 contract year will advance one salary level. School Board Member Justin Sharpless wanted something done to improve revenues. This did elapse, according to the memorandum of understanding with the Polk Education Association, PCPSspokesman Jason Geary said in a statement Friday. Documented interviews of the victim, alleged perpetrator, and witnesses shall be conducted privately and shall be confidential. In-person benefit assistance is available at an upcoming health and benefit fair. Employees of Polk County Schools who are unable to access this folder, please email Laura Barnett, lbarnett@polkcountyschools.com. If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. This policy does not imply to prohibit expressive activity protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or Article 1, Section 4 of the Florida constitution. So,ahome valuedat $200,000 afteranyexemptions would pay$1,165.80. Information on ESE services, projects, and programs, and resources for families. State funding covers just 60% of the district's mandated transportation services. Many of the teacher vacancies and other services are covered by contracts with outside vendors such as INVO, providing behavioral support. through the use of data or computer software that is accessed at a nonschool-related location, activity, function, or program or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the District or school, if the bullying substantially interferes with or limits the victim's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by the District or school or substantially disrupts the education process or orderly operation of a school. You can search, save, and share with ease. The total adopted Polk County Schools budget was $2.35 billion this year. practices and standards defined by Section 508 of the U.S. Their adult daughter, Jenna,alsogotsickand has recovered. School Board of Polk County, Florida The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high quality education for all students. If you want to be notified of updates to our website, please subscribe here! Sara VanHook Principal sara.vanhook@polk-fl.net. Quick access to forms, resources, and information. Polk is the second largest employer in the county with about 13,500 employees (excluding substitute teachers). Discipline and referral data will be recorded in Student Discipline/Referral Action Report and Automated Student Information System. Egregious acts of harassment by certified educators may result in a sanction against an educator's State-issued certificate. Click the icon to log in to ourdistrict applications. As for Wools, she was in the emergency room on Thursday with worsening symptoms COVID pneumonia. Cyberbullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying. The instruction shall include evidence-based methods of preventing bullying and harassment, as well as information about how to effectively identify and. But she warned that the health plan might not be free to employees for long. Log In Sign in with Staff Sign in with Students Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline 1-800-962-2873 Students: Forgot Password? LAKELAND Polk County Public Schools paraprofessionals and support staff can expect a whopping paycheck at the end of October, thanks to a contract negotiated in recent months andapproved by the School Board during a special meeting on Tuesdaythat retroactively grantsraises and salary increases. Fieldsattended via zoom,Sarah Fortney was at a function for international teachers, and Lynn Wilson had a prior engagement and arrived late. "Harassment" or "bullying" also means electronically transmitted acts (i.e., internet, e-mail, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant(PDA), or wireless hand-held device) that a student(s) or a group of students exhibits toward another particular student(s) and the behavior both causes mental or physical harm to the other student and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student(s). Employees are not required to contribute to the districts self-insuredplan, but do pay for spouses and dependents. The district operates 540 buses and transports more than 51,000 students for a total of 60,670 miles travelled each day. Is the 10 days no longer a thing? Polk County Public Schools serves at-risk students through various alternative education programs. The standards for student behavior shall be set cooperatively through interaction among students, parents/guardians, staff, and community member, producing an atmosphere that encourages students to grow in self-discipline. The tentative budget for the 2023-2024 school year will be prepared by June setting a proposed millage rate, which is determined by a state formula. The student may also report concerns to teachers and other school staff who will be responsible for notifying the appropriate administrator. PCPS and the PEA signed a memorandum of understanding on this issue, which did not need a votefromthe School Board. Submission of a good faith complaint or report bullying or harassment will not affect the complainant or reporter's future employment, grades, learning or working environment, or work assignments. PEA President Stephanie Yocum said the school district received more than enough federal relief money to extend the COVID sick leave to those who need it, as other counties have done. If a bullying (including cyberbullying) and/or harassment incident occurs it will be reported in SESIR, coded appropriately using the relevant incident code and the related element code. respond to bullying in schools. Qvonda.blackman@polk-fl.net Delores Shockley 88 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[68 36]/Info 67 0 R/Length 103/Prev 529646/Root 69 0 R/Size 104/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream The district has high transportation cost because it covers so much land encompassing more square miles than the state of Rhode Island, Pitts said. The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students. Username. Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries. "Bullying" means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one (1) or more students or employees. ; ClassLink Online resources and services for students! Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith is considered retaliation. Learn about how to get $$$ for your education. The bulk of the current general fund budget goes toward salaries and . Pitts gave the following context for the board to see where Polk County Schools rank financially at the state and national levels: The presentation also showed that Polk County Schools: However, he showed Polk County is currently 62nd of 67 districts in funding per student. Latest: At least 16 Polk County Public Schools teachers, staff have died of COVID-19 since the start of school, By the way: Polk County School District details plans for $202M in relief funds. School Board Vice-Chairwoman Kay Fields thankedthe staff for their work, acknowledging that it did nothappen overnight, and thanking the staff and PEA negotiators for including a provision to renegotiate if there is a fluctuation in funding. Step 2: Search For Qualified Applicants. The Principal shall establish and prominently publicize to students, staff, volunteers, and parents the procedure for reporting bullying and how such a report will be acted upon. Information on immunizations, medication administration, and head lice. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. It should have been extended because its the right thing to do. The District will not tolerate unlawful bullying and harassment of any type. View state and district assessments by grade level, including tips on preparing for exams. Search results from our Services may contain copyrighted material and, if so, you may not use such content unless you obtain permission from its owner or are otherwise permitted by law. Created by the School Board of Polk County Help Desk- (863) 519-8040 or 56661 05/27/2014 5) While 'Redirecting', you will login again to fss.polk-fl.net using your full POLK-FL Network email address and password to complete your webmail Office 365 access. It is defined as any unwanted and repeated written, verbal, emotional (relational), sexual aggression, cyberbullying, or physical behavior, including any offensive, threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or student, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual's school performance or participation; and may involve: "Harassment" means any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal or physical conduct directed against a student or school employee that: places a student or school employee in reasonable fear of harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; has the effect of interfering with a student's educational performance, opportunities, or benefits; or. Mar 2013 - Jul 20163 years 5 months. Upon completion of the investigation, notification shall be by telephone and/or in writing by first-class mail and shall be consistent with the student privacy rights under applicable provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Rehabilitation Act. The principal/assistant principal or District will make a determination if an act of bullying or harassment falls within the scope of District authority. "I am so sorry, said School Board member Lisa Miller. Retroactive to July 1,2021,all affected hourly rates will be increased to a new minimum-base entry-level rate of $11anhour. LAKELAND Polk County Public Schoolsand the Polk Education Association teachers union arein final talks toextenduntil June 4the 10 days of COVID sickleave. According to the level of infraction, the victim's parents will be notified by telephone and/or in writing of actions being taken to protect the child; the frequency of notification will depend on the seriousness of the bullying or harassment incident. Four School Board members were in attendance for the9 a.m.work session Chairwoman Lori Cunningham, Sara Beth Reynolds, Lisa Miller and William Allen. website. Im not going toplay with this, shesaid. Polk County School Board meetings convene at the District Office, 1915 S. Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830. There is even a mobile app, so you can access the system from your smartphone or other mobile device. "Cyberbullying" means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which includes, but is not limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photelectronic system, or photooptical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. Perpetuation of conduct listed in the definition of bullying and/or harassment by an individual or group with intent to demean, dehumanize, embarrass, or cause emotional or physical harm to a student or school employee by: accessing or knowingly and willingly causing or providing access to data or computer software through a computer, computer system, or computer network within the scope of the District school system; or. Learn the measures were taking to operate more efficiently. Check out your childs grades, attendance, and more! Our district consists of 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and a virtual learning academy for grades K-12. Search results from our Services may contain copyrighted material and, if so, you may not use such content unless you obtain permission from its owner or are otherwise permitted by law. The salary increase was part of a constitutional amendment passed by Florida voters in November to incrementally increase minimum wage each year until 2026, when it will reach $15 an hour. Anti-bullying Assemblies - e.g., Jaylen's Challenge, Yellow Dress, Omega Man, etc. Instruction regarding bullying, harassment, and the District's violence prevention and school safety efforts shall be integrated into District curriculum at the appropriate grade levels. School Board member Lisa Miller said she wants to see the employee contribution left at zero,especiallyfor staff and paraeducators. I need to reset my password. Password. Paul Nutcher can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com. a written report by the principal/assistant principal. We worked over the last two years as our union to try to be more collaborativewith the district, Yocum said. %%EOF Butler state police said in a criminal complaint that it was a little before 7:45 p.m. Thursday when Dakota Hughes, 22, called 911, identified himself by his name and date of birth, and said he . Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. She shouldn't be worried about her pay.. Please use your Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) credentials to access the Staff Portal Admin System. The bulk of the current general fund budget goes toward salaries and benefits at $625 million. Staff Directory Administration. 6A-10.081). Consequences and appropriate remedial action for students who commit acts of bullying or harassment or found to have falsely accused another as a means of bullying or harassment may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion, as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. The School Board is committed to providing an educational setting that is safe, secure, and free from harassment and bullying, including cyberbullying, for all of its students and school employees and applicants for admission. School administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers serve as role models for students and are expected to demonstrate appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate harassment or bullying. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger. This policy has been developed and reviewed in consultation with District students, parents, teachers, administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives, and local law enforcement agencies as prescribed in F.S. -Organize, train for, and . Complaints against the principal should be filed with the regional assistant superintendent assigned to the school. False charges shall also be regarded as a serious offense and will result in disciplinary action or other appropriate sanctions. Students are expected to conform to reasonable standards of socially acceptable behavior; respect the person, property, and rights of others; obey constituted authority; and respond to those who hold that authority. There are also 145 school resource officers and guardians; and district support personnel of 1,595. If a provision of this policy is or becomes illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, that shall not affect the validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of this policy. This website endeavors to comply with best Learn about our career academies that help students prepare for the workforce. All complaints about bullying and/or harassment that may violate this policy shall be promptly investigated by the principal or assistant principal, who is trained in investigative procedures. The state and federal government also contributes roughly47% and 9% respectively (based on National Center for Education Statistics) to complete the majority of a school districts funding sources each year, Education Week reported. Conduct that constitutes bullying and harassment, as defined herein, is prohibited: during any education program or activity conducted by the District; during any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity or on a District school bus, or at a District school bus stop ; through the use of data or computer software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, or computer network of the District; or. Follow us on Social Media for the latest news and updates. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. Woolscould not understand why the date had not been extended through the end of the school year yet. The piece that was missing was Mr. Heid. Search the Destiny library catalog, find online resources and learn how parents can give input on library materials. acting in a manner that has an effect similar to the effect of bullying or harassment. The Superintendent shall develop a comprehensive plan intended to prevent bullying and harassment and to cultivate the school climate so as to appropriately identify, report, investigate, and respond to situations of bullying and harassment as they may occur on school grounds, at school-sponsored events, and through school computer networks. What is up with that? Maria Garcia: Food Services Team: Lisa Marie Gill: Office & Support Staff, Paraprofessionals, Title 1 View school menus and replenish your accounts. The 2022 open enrollment period will be October 17-29, and employees of Polk County Public Schools will need to manage their benefits using Benefitplace. Pursuant to State law, District students, parents, teachers, administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives, and local law enforcement agencies shall be involved in the review of this policy. ", Students, parents, teachers, school administrators, counseling staff, and school volunteers shall be provided training and instruction, at least annually, on the District's policy and administrative procedures regarding bullying and harassment. The contracts are not necessarily the most expensive items in the budget but they could add up and a review could free up funds needed elsewhere, she said. Florida Southern College receives $120,000 state matching grant for nursing education, Winter Haven doctor, a pioneer of emergency medical services in 1960s, dies at age 98, Events celebrating legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. planned in Lakeland, It takes more than numbers to sum up Castle's career, As development comes to Lake Wales, some residents worry about changes to quality of life, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Polk County School District is the 24th largest in the nation based on the number of students, The Polk County District would be the largest in 39 states, Polk County is the seventh largest district in Florida. About 300 teachers in Polk County, both public and private, have contracted COVID-19 between Sept. 6 and April 3, according to records with the Florida Department of Health. The issue came upthis week in Polk afterWendell Watson Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Susan Woolsasked The Ledger about it. That's an importantpoint for many of the boardmembersits part of the recruitment we have for staff, Miller said. 2023 www.theledger.com. Search results are not intended as legal advice for you or your organization and are not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction. Use your county credentials or email to log in. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board policy and independent of whether a complaint is substantiated. Complaints against the superintendent should be filed with the Board Chair. All other members of the school community, including students, parents, volunteers, and visitors, are encouraged to report any act that may be a violation of this policy to the principal or as described above. No Registration is required. "We have the issues when it comes to transportation costs but we don't have the advantages of some of those larger districts' coastal property taxes and things like that," he said, giving one example of a financial disadvantage that Polk County faces. It is exhausting, but I do feel I will beat it. I have forgotten my password and security questions. Additionally, the Board expects school staff to conduct themselves in a manner that will protect the rights and welfare of students and other school staff and the care of school facilities and equipment. There will be no changes to the district's health insurance plan. 110 East Polk Avenue, Lake Wales, FL 33853PH: 863.678.4244 | FX: 863.678.4680, Copyright 2023 Lake Wales Charter Schools. This policy should not be interpreted as to prevent a victim or accused from seeking redress under any other available law either civil or criminal. 0 If the action is outside the scope of the District and believed not a criminal act, the principal shall inform parents/guardians of all minor parties. She commended new Polk County Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid, who began in June. School Board Member Lisa Miller said she was interested in seeing an in-progress efficiency audit of current contracted services with the district. College funding: Florida Southern College receives $120,000 state matching grant for nursing education, Trailblazer: Winter Haven doctor, a pioneer of emergency medical services in 1960s, dies at age 98, "One of the most concerning things for me is not just this presentation, but in school funding in general, is where we rank in our district's costs differential," Sharpless said. A helpful overview of Polk County Public Schools Fine Arts programs and opportunities. He vowed to visit Florida's legislative offices in Tallahassee himself to make them aware of the alarming numbers facing the fast-growing school district. It seems like an arbitrary date was chosen for the purpose of choosing a date, when vaccines are just rolling out and COVID numbers are growing,saidWools, who has enough sick time stockpiled to cover it. Information for vendors and potential business partners, including purchasing and construction bids. Whether a particular action or incident constitutes a violation of the policy requires a determination based on all the facts and surrounding circumstances and shall include: a recommendation of remedial steps necessary to stop the bullying and/or harassing behavior; and. The district does also get sales tax proceeds, Pitts said. Its not rocket science.. Information on identifying and reporting bullying for parents and students. I'm confident we will get it extended,though, and anyone having to take their own time for quarantine will be given their time back, Yocum said. In West Virginia, it spends $12,270 per student and pays an average teacher salary of$50,261. I looked through the employee COVID info in the(time card)hub, and everything I looked at expired in December, Woolssaid in a text message. Steps for getting your child started at Polk County Public Schools. While Polk's average teacher salary is 35th in the state. Learn more, including how you can get involved! Use these tools to encourage collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, and work one-on-one or with the whole class. (See the Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida F.A.C. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. Nikki Jones Assistant Principal nikki.jones@polk-fl.net . Forgot Your Password? Our Services may display content that does not belong to Emerald Data Solutions or its affiliates. Information regarding dress code, Code of Conduct, attendance, and Student Progression Plan. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. The Staff Portal has been redesigned to be easier to use on a large variety of devices. Implementation of the plan by each principal will be ongoing throughout the school year and will be integrated with the school curriculum, the bullying and prevention program, District disciplinary policies, and violence prevention efforts. Another, Kelly Services, provides the district with staff, including substitute teachers. Polk County also has unique challenges having both a rural and urban population as well as being an inland county, Pitts said. Information on how to become an approved volunteer and other ways to support Polk County Public Schools. After his presentation, several School Board members wanted more information or called for legislative action on seeing the outlook for its next spending plan. InAugust, the district implemented paid sick leave specifically for COVID through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which uses the federal funding to pay the sick leave salary, among many things. User Name. Information on identifying and reporting bullying. Find your Board member, access Board meeting calendars and agendas, and learn how you can watch meeting broadcasts. Your principal has materials for you to certify that you have viewed the training video and have taught the required lesson for your grade level, but there are lots of other materials on the website if you want to explore the topic further with your students. We serve over 7,800 students across eleven schools throughout the Polk County community. Employees and retirees can submit requests through Benefitplace to change their benefits due to a qualifying, life-changing event, such as marriage, divorce, death of a dependent/beneficiary, birth of a child, adoption, etc. Flyers, posters, and bookmarks are being distributed at schools with QR codes for easy access. We are always striving to improve the accessibility standards of our 103 0 obj <>stream He added the state lottery provides funding that amounts to five days of the districts operations. This policy is adopted pursuant to the requirements of F.S. The physical location or time of access of a computer-related incident cannot be raised as a defense in any disciplinary action initiated pursuant to this policy. Mrs. Blackman earned a Bachelor's degree from Florida A & M University and a Master's degree from Nova Southeastern University. of technology or ability. All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the principal or as described above. The law went into effect Sept. 30. Valuable information and resources for families who are already homeschooling their children or those interested in home education. Best of all, PBS LearningMedia is free for educators. A maximum of ten (10) school days shall be the limit for the initial filing of the incidents and completion of the investigative procedural steps. Library Media Services offers a number of services and programs to aid students, school library staff, teachers, faculty, district office staff and members of the community. "In collaboration with our union and the districts newadministration,we were able to make strides in getting a settlement for our supportstaff.. Password This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. Camerons Collection can also be accessed through ClassLink, the Gale GVLR site, or each schools Destiny homepage. 1006.147 (known as the Jeffrey Johnson Stand Up for All Students Act) to address both bullying and harassment that does not rise to the level of or is comprised of discriminatory conduct.

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