Polk tops 200 new COVID-19 cases for 3rd-straight day, Polk teachers see a pay bump, but no raise for paraeducators or school staff, Polk teachers 'just thought it was adisruption.' LAKELAND Polk County Public Schoolsand the Polk Education Association teachers union arein final talks toextenduntil June 4the 10 days of COVID sickleave. Sexual cyberharassment may be a form of sexual harassment. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. . The law went into effect Sept. 30. The Polk County School District operates 135 schools; 84 elementary schools, 24 middle schools and 17 high schools. Upon the completion of the investigation and if criminal charges are to be pursued against the perpetrator, the appropriate law enforcement agencies shall be notified by telephone and/or in writing. We are always striving to improve the accessibility standards of our In July the district will advertise thetentative budget once data has been gathered predicting the number of students and teachers anticipated next school year. Jason Pitts, the districts chief of staff for the superintendents office, led the budget presentation during the boardsregularly scheduled work session Tuesday. In-person benefit assistance is available at an upcoming health and benefit fair. 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. Step 2: Search For Qualified Applicants. 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. accessibility concerns, please contact the webmaster. hmo0w>?HS%eZHFPA6u~wNMQ $ YFm{0D1JR K"XfF6ED#Fshb. The Student Progression Plan describes requirements for students to be promoted to the next grade. 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. Polk County Public Schools offers a variety of programs for children ages 3-5. What is up with that? Their adult daughter, Jenna,alsogotsickand has recovered. I just want to change my password. You can search, save, and share with ease. The piece that was missing was Mr. Heid. Information on how to become an approved volunteer and other ways to support Polk County Public Schools. 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. There will be no changes to the district's health insurance 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. No Registration is required. 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. While Polk's average teacher salary is 35th in the state. home of the beautiful Ocoee, Conasauga, and Hiwassee Rivers and the Cherokee National Forest! 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). 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. The issue came up. Such behavior is essential in maintaining an environment that provides each student the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education in a uniform, safe, secure, efficient, and high-quality system of education. The Polk Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that directly supports Polk County Public Schools. In his 27-page snapshot of the districts financial health, Pritt said the biggest and most pressing challenge for the district in the future will be capital funding. Using the FPEP formula - often refered to as a "dollars per student" formula - Tedder offered the following example: "If the School Board gets approved to spend $3,500 per student and the number of students is 135,000 they would need to generate $437,500,000," he said. This review process shall be conducted not less than every three (3) years thereafter. That's an importantpoint for many of the boardmembersits part of the recruitment we have for staff, Miller said. respond to bullying in schools. Bullying Curriculum for Students - developed by the District - This curriculum includes education on recognition, prevention, and intervention at all grade levels. Learn about the many ways were protecting our students. The Staff Portal has been redesigned to be easier to use on a large variety of devices. Our Services may display content that does not belong to Emerald Data Solutions or its affiliates. Information on immunizations, medication administration, and head lice. 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 1006.147 and in conformity with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Model Policy. Click the icon to log in to ourdistrict applications. Polk K12 Parents: Forgot Password? 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. However, we are working with the union on this matter and reviewing available options., More:Polk tops 200 new COVID-19 cases for 3rd-straight day, More:Polk teachers see a pay bump, but no raise for paraeducators or school staff, More:Polk teachers 'just thought it was adisruption.' Information on identifying and reporting bullying for parents and students. There are 13,588 districts in the U.S. By comparison, New York spends $24,800 per student and the average teacher salary is$87,738. ); intervention which includes assistance and support provided to parents; analysis and evaluation of school culture with resulting recommendations for interventions aimed at increasing peer ownership and support. 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. It is exhausting, but I do feel I will beat it. of technology or ability. The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students. We are located in the southeastern corner of Tennessee in the heart of the. Yocum said in a text message that the teachersunion has been in talks with PCPS Associate Superintendent for Human ResourcesTeddra Porteous about the extension. . Password. Flyers, posters, and bookmarks are being distributed at schools with QR codes for easy access. She commended new Polk County Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid, who began in June. Learn about how to get $$$ for your education. Safety comes first at PCPS. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger. I have forgotten my password and security questions. Pursuant to Florida law, "sexual cyberharassment" means to publish a sexually explicit image of a person that contains or conveys the personal identification information of the depicted person to an Internet website without the depicted persons consent, for no legitimate purpose, with the intent of causing substantial emotional distress to the depicted person. Woolscould not understand why the date had not been extended through the end of the school year yet. All records generated under this policy and its related administrative procedures shall be maintained as confidential to the extent permitted by law. The issue came upthis week in Polk afterWendell Watson Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Susan Woolsasked The Ledger about it. TDOE has a preview site located here. The Polk County School Board kicked off itsbudgeting process for the next school year with a report that showed the district ranks among the poorest both nationally and statewide for such a large district. Forgot Your Password? Need Password Help? Step 3: Interview and Hire! 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. Polk County HUB ; Staff List; Annual Accountability; . The proposed millage rateforPCPSthis school year was tentatively set at $5.829 per $1,000 of a property's value, The Ledger previously reported. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. 68 0 obj <> endobj But after year of COVID-19, a new reality sets in. State funding covers just 60% of the district's mandated transportation services. It was obvious that the board really did not propose that the employees premiums increase, so we have kept those the same, saidPCPS Chief of StaffJason Pitts. 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. The Polk Schools Staff Portal The Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! Maria Garcia: Food Services Team: Lisa Marie Gill: Office & Support Staff, Paraprofessionals, Title 1 This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. Our district consists of 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and a virtual learning academy for grades K-12. Use your Polk County Schools username as follows: Staff: (firstname.lastname only, do not include @polk-fl.net) to access Moodle. Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. Pitts said the decade-long losses in revenues because of millage rollbacks amounted to nearly $271 million. MLK Day: Events celebrating legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. planned in Lakeland. Computers without web-filtering software or computers with web-filtering software that is disabled shall be used when complaints of cyberbullying are investigated. If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. The School Board then votes on the general fund millage rate, he said. "Bullying" means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one (1) or more students or employees. Written and oral reports shall be considered official reports. In 10 years, the Polk County millage rate peaked at 5.42 in 2012 and sank to 3.998 in 2019. The doctor gave hera prescriptionandsent her home. Find everything to ensure your child is on track to graduate on time. Administrator, Teacher, Parent Education - developed by the District, Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc.'s Child Safety Matters, Keys to Character - developed by the District. 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. Polk County also has unique challenges having both a rural and urban population as well as being an inland county, Pitts said. 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. Check your childs grades, attendance, and more. But she warned that the health plan might not be free to employees for long. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. Student safety is Polk County Public Schools first priority. I just put my absence in as my own sick leave.. Polk County Public schools has partnered with Benefitfocus to provide the members of our insurance plan with a secure, efficient and convenient platform to manage their benefits online. School Board of Polk County, Florida The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high quality education for all students. Designed for iOS and Android mobile devices, the BenefitplaceTM Mobile App gives you instant access to relevant benefits information for the moments that matter most. Please Note: Each step must be completed in less than 20 minutes. I know what symptoms to watch forand Im paying close attention. Valuable information and resources for families who are already homeschooling their children or those interested in home education. It was like getting hit by a train and trying to breathe with an elephant sitting on you,saidWools, who rarely gets sick. Find critical coverage information, insightful plan details, and relevant benefits that meet the needs of your unique life circumstances. Using that information, it bases the state's financial contribution to school districts on the number of full-time students the district teaches. There are lessons for all grade levels, plus materials for parents as well. Each year the tax collector will then certify the taxable value of property in Polk County in July and the state sets the mileage rate the district can assess to determine its local funding amount. These programs focus on correcting behaviors and developing attitudes and skills that will help students make positive changes in their lives. Polk School District is a dynamic public school district located in Polk County, Georgia. The ultimate winner: It takes more than numbers to sum up Castle's career. The current general fund was set at $1.167 billion. Employees of Polk County Schools who are unable to access this folder, please email Laura Barnett. Complaints against the superintendent should be filed with the Board Chair. Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached atkmoore@theledger.comor 863-802-7514. The New Polk Schools Staff Portal - Now Mobile Friendly! For questions related to your benefits or for assistance with Benefitplace, please contact the PCPS Risk Management and Benefits department. Accelerated Academic Programs Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. The District will utilize Florida's School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting (SESIR) Statewide Report on School Safety and Discipline Data as prescribed. 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. a written report by the principal/assistant principal. 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. 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. This year, the minimum wage went up to $11 an hour. Work online or offline, anytime, and on any device with myPolkApps, powered by Google. Janie Howard Wilson Elementary; Polk Avenue Elementary School; Edward W. Bok Academy North; Edward W. Bok Academy South; Lake Wales High School; District; Library & Curriculum; Choose Lake Wales! Check out your childs grades, attendance, and more! Polk County Public Schools Let's get started! "That's something that is really alarming to me.". There are also three career centers, five alternative education (Department of Juvenile Justice) facilities, two adult schools and 33 charter schools. Learn the measures were taking to operate more efficiently. 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. Flyers, posters, and bookmarks are being distributed at schools with QR codes for easy access. Polk County Public Schools strives to reduce its energy footprint. Links to additional information for students. 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. The programs of training and instruction authorized by the District shall include, but not be limited to. The highest level of confidentiality possible shall be provided regarding the submission of a complaint or a report of bullying and/or harassment and for the investigative procedures that are employed. There are also 145 school resource officers and guardians; and district support personnel of 1,595. "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). "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. Quick access to forms, resources, and information. 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. Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries. Learn about the history of Polk County Public Schools and the mission that is guiding it into the future. Thank you for visiting the official website of the Polk County Department of Education. If you want to be notified of updates to our website, please subscribe here! 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. PCPS and the PEA signed a memorandum of understanding on this issue, which did not need a votefromthe School Board. 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. If you would like additional assistance or have We serve over 7,800 students across eleven schools throughout the Polk County community. All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the principal or as described above. The districthas lost a third of taxable value from the increases in home values since the Great Recession because of the rollback on millage rates, he added. Any student or student's parent/guardian who believes s/he has been or is the victim of bullying or harassment should immediately report the situation to the school principal. This includes two high schools, one college and career academy, two middle schools, and six elementary schools. Coronavirus Information A place for current employees 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. Staff Portal Staff Portal Sign Out Contact Info Employee Benefits COVID-19 Leave Time Certification Certification Info Renewal Payment Form Add-On Payment Form Transcripts Upload In-County Travel Payroll Info Paychecks Pay Frequency Election W-2 Forms Fed Tax Filing Status Work Calendar Salary Equipment Use Temporary Duty Teacher Transfer Is the 10 days no longer a thing? Journey - Personnel Evaluation & Professional Learning System | A Polk County Public Schools Project Journey is an evolving resource designed to support educators at all levels in student-centered professional learning and personnel evaluation activities. 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. Polk County Board of Education meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the second Monday of each month. In West Virginia, it spends $12,270 per student and pays an average teacher salary of$50,261. Library Media Services recently purchased Camerons Collection, a mental health and wellness e-book series for secondary students. I hereby authorize The School Board of Polk County to initiate credit entries and if necessary, debit entries and adjustments to my account at the above financial institution named. I know my password and it has not expired. . The District will not tolerate unlawful bullying and harassment of any type. Those at the top of their respectivesalaryschedules will receive a 3% increase,in addition to the above 2% increase. 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, Florida Area. False charges shall also be regarded as a serious offense and will result in disciplinary action or other appropriate sanctions. Log in using the same username and password you created during the self-registration process. The investigation of a reported act of bullying or harassment is deemed to be a school-related activity and begins with a report of such an act. 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. Pitts saida reduction in spending for the Polk County School Board to consider would be to start charging a premium for health insurance and looking for duplicate services provided in current contracts for services as budget deliberations continue. The District expects students to conduct themselves in keeping with their levels of development, maturity, and demonstrated capabilities with a proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students and school staff, the educational purpose underlying all school activities, and the care of school facilities and equipment. The district operates 540 buses and transports more than 51,000 students for a total of 60,670 miles travelled each day. K-12 Students: (username only, do not include @mypolkschools.net) to access Moodle. There is even a mobile app, so you can access the system from your smartphone or other mobile device. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. The investigator shall collect and evaluate the facts including but not limited to: whether there were past incidents or past continuing patterns of behavior; the relationship between the parties involved including whether the individual was in a position of power over the individual allegedly subject to bullying or harassment; the characteristics of the parties involved; where the bullying and/or harassment occurred; whether there have been other incidents in the school involving the same or other students; whether the conduct adversely affected the student's education or educational environment; the context in which the alleged incidents occurred; and. This website endeavors to comply with best Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries. Its not rocket science.. Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a school employee found to have committed an act of bullying or harassment or found to have falsely accused another as a means of bullying or harassment shall include discipline in accordance with District policies, administrative procedures, and the collective bargaining agreement. "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. Search the Destiny library catalog, find online resources and learn how parents can give input on library materials. The Superintendent will also provide such notification to all District contractors. 103 0 obj <>stream Retroactive to July 1,2021,all affected hourly rates will be increased to a new minimum-base entry-level rate of $11anhour. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. Polk County Public Schools English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department supports the academic success and acculturation of English language learners. 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. Camerons Collection can also be accessed through ClassLink, the Gale GVLR site, or each schools Destiny homepage. If, during an investigation of reported acts of bullying and/or harassment, the principal or his/her designee believes that the reported misconduct may have created a hostile learning environment and may have constituted unlawful discriminatory harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, transgender status, or gender identity), race, color, national origin, religion, or disability (including HIV, AIDS, or sickle cell trait), pregnancy, marital status, age (except as authorized by law), religion, military status, ancestry, or genetic information which are classes protected by State and/or Federal law (collectively "protected classes"), the principal or his/her designee will report the act of bullying and/or harassment to one (1) of the Compliance Officers so that it may be investigated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Policy 5517 - Anti-Harassment.