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Learn about Polk County Public Schools athletics programs and how your child can join the team! Polk County Public Schools English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department supports the academic success and acculturation of English language learners. 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 content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. Polk County Public Schools Recruitment and Hiring System. 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. Incidents that require a reasonable investigation when reported to appropriate school authorities shall include alleged incidents of bullying or harassment allegedly committed against a child while the child is enroute to school aboard a bus or at a school bus stop. The bulk of the current general fund budget goes toward salaries and . 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. Polk County Public Schools employs school counselors who provide students with the support they need at each stage of their development. 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. TDOE has a preview site located here. The Polk County School District operates 135 schools; 84 elementary schools, 24 middle schools and 17 high schools. PBS LearningMedia is your destination for easy, instant access to tens of thousands of classroom-ready, digital resources including videos and presentations perfect for the Interactive Whiteboard, plus audio and photos, and even in-depth lesson plans. 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.' Lakeland, Florida Area. home of the beautiful Ocoee, Conasauga, and Hiwassee Rivers and the Cherokee National Forest! 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. Please use your Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) credentials to access the Staff Portal Admin System. practices and standards defined by Section 508 of the U.S. This authorization is to remain in effect until withdrawn by me, in writing, with sufficient notice to The School Board Payroll Department to . Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. If you want to be notified of updates to our website, please subscribe here! Links to online catalogs, eBooks, and reference and research tools. Polk County Public Schools offers a variety of programs for children ages 3-5. Best of all, PBS LearningMedia is free for educators. Capital is needed for the district's wish list of building projects that could add 10 more schools and multiple remodeling projects by 2041 in order to relieve already overcrowded schools and accommodate the endless waves of families with school-aged children moving to Polk County. Learn about the wide variety of school options Polk County Public Schools offers for students of all ages. Sara VanHook Principal sara.vanhook@polk-fl.net. We serve over 7,800 students across eleven schools throughout the Polk County community. 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. Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries. The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students. Our district consists of 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and a virtual learning academy for grades K-12. I know a lot of the paras decide to work for us for little to nothing based on that benefit.. The district has a $900 million capital shortfall, his report showed. School Board member Lisa Miller said she wants to see the employee contribution left at zero,especiallyfor staff and paraeducators. I just put my absence in as my own sick leave.. Valuable information and resources for families who are already homeschooling their children or those interested in home education. 3 Steps To Hiring Quality Employees Step 1: Create A Vacancy. Online resources and services for students! Our Services may display content that does not belong to Emerald Data Solutions or its affiliates. While ten (10) days is the expectation for completion of the investigative procedural steps, more time may be needed based on the nature of the investigation and the circumstances affecting that investigation. 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. The investigator shall document in his/her report the reasons for needing up to an additional ten (10) days. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger. The general fund on lastyearsbills had a millage rate of 4.019, andfor the local capital improvement, which was 1.5. website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless Bullying Curriculum for Students - developed by the District - This curriculum includes education on recognition, prevention, and intervention at all grade levels. Follow us on Social Media for the latest news and updates. 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. Need Password Help? Polk County also has unique challenges having both a rural and urban population as well as being an inland county, Pitts said. You can search, save, and share with ease. Quick access to forms, resources, and information. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. The School District will respect the privacy of the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible, consistent with the Board's legal obligations to investigate, to take appropriate action, and to conform with any discovery or disclosure obligations. %%EOF Is the 10 days no longer a thing? We worked over the last two years as our union to try to be more collaborativewith the district, Yocum said. 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. Pitts said the decade-long losses in revenues because of millage rollbacks amounted to nearly $271 million. Camerons Collection can also be accessed through ClassLink, the Gale GVLR site, or each schools Destiny homepage. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. 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. Information for planning the next steps of your education and beyond. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as aggressive behavior and/or bullying. It is exhausting, but I do feel I will beat it. Related:Polk schools budget is estimated at $2.2B,but its not as much as it could be, Minimum wage:See Florida and federal minimum wages over the last 20 years. Learn about excused and unexcused absences, and attendance expectations. A helpful overview of Polk County Public Schools Fine Arts programs and opportunities. 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. A victim of bullying and/or harassment, anyone who witnessed the act, and anyone who has credible information that an act of bullying and/or harassment has taken place may file a report. Library Media Services recently purchased Camerons Collection, a mental health and wellness e-book series for secondary 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. Learn about the ways were safeguarding our students and schools. Thank you for visiting the official website of the Polk County Department of Education. 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). She commended new Polk County Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid, who began in June. Nikki Jones Assistant Principal nikki.jones@polk-fl.net . The Student Progression Plan describes requirements for students to be promoted to the next grade. a written report by the principal/assistant principal. 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. . 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. 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. 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. District Office:1915 South Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830, 2022 Polk County Public Schools | Equity & Compliance | About | Sitemap. Polk is the second largest employer in the county with about 13,500 employees (excluding substitute teachers). ".a student attending a persistently dangerous public elementary school or secondary school, as determined by the State in consultation, with a representative sample of local educational agencies, or who becomes a victim of a violent criminal offense, as determined by State law, while in or on the grounds of a public elementary school or secondary school that the student attends, be allowed to attend a safe public elementary school or secondary school within the local educational agency, including a public charter school. What is up with that? The intended audience is 6th-12thgrade students and parents. The district employs 6,312 teachers; 1,065 paraprofessionals; 334 counselors, social workers and nurses; 432 principals, 437 secretaries, 599 custodians, 755 food service workers and 580 bus drivers. The ultimate winner: It takes more than numbers to sum up Castle's career. "The School Board takes the taxable value from the property appraiser to determine the millage rate that needs to be charged in the general fund to generate the $437,500,000.". Charter school monies pass through the district coffers and that is expected to be $128 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. 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. 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. endstream endobj 69 0 obj <>/Metadata 2 0 R/Pages 66 0 R/StructTreeRoot 6 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 70 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 648 792]/Parent 66 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 71 0 obj <>stream Coronavirus Information A place for current employees The District will provide bullying incident, discipline, and referral data to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) in the format requested, through Survey 5 from Education Information and Accountability Services, and at designated dates provided by the Department. Polk School District is a dynamic public school district located in Polk County, Georgia. As for Wools, she was in the emergency room on Thursday with worsening symptoms COVID pneumonia. hb``b``*c```w01G30i.F E(|_ PyLsY\&mv e4 103 0 obj <>stream COVID-19 Testing Sites Available In Polk County You can find COVID-19 testing sites in your area by visiting https://polkschoolsfl.com/healthinformation/ to view a list of Polk testing sites provided by the Florida Department of Health. Access is anonymous. Retaliation against any person who reports, is thought to have reported, files a complaint, or otherwise participates in an investigation or inquiry under this policy is prohibited. Student safety is Polk County Public Schools first priority. ; Accelerated Academic Programs Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. LAKELAND Polk County Public Schoolsand the Polk Education Association teachers union arein final talks toextenduntil June 4the 10 days of COVID sickleave. 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 I know my password and it has not expired. Many of the teacher vacancies and other services are covered by contracts with outside vendors such as INVO, providing behavioral support. 2023 www.theledger.com. In 10 years, the Polk County millage rate peaked at 5.42 in 2012 and sank to 3.998 in 2019. View school menus and replenish your accounts. The principal/assistant principal or District will make a determination if an act of bullying or harassment falls within the scope of District authority. That's when homeowners will find out what to expect to pay in local property taxes. endstream endobj startxref Jason Pitts, the districts chief of staff for the superintendents office, led the budget presentation during the boardsregularly scheduled work session Tuesday. 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. Victims of these offenses should also have the incident basis (sex, race, or disability) noted in their student record. 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. Staff Directory Administration. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. Search . 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 total adopted Polk County Schools budget was $2.35 billion this year. She said some contracts have been renewed for up to 10 years and the audit could shed light on unnessessary or duplicated services. Complaints against the principal should be filed with the regional assistant superintendent assigned to the school. School Board Member Lisa Miller said she was interested in seeing an in-progress efficiency audit of current contracted services with the district. There are also three career centers, five alternative education (Department of Juvenile Justice) facilities, two adult schools and 33 charter schools. View state and district assessments by grade level, including tips on preparing for exams. Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a visitor or volunteer 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 be determined by the school administrator after consideration of the nature and circumstances of the act, including reports to appropriate law enforcement officials. All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the principal or as described above. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. Polks spending on administrative costs is the third lowest in Florida. Computers without web-filtering software or computers with web-filtering software that is disabled shall be used when complaints of cyberbullying are investigated. 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. 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 principal shall report the occurrence of an incident of suspected bullying as defined by District policy to the parent/guardian of all students known to be involved in the incident on the same day an investigation of the incident has been initiated. The instruction shall include evidence-based methods of preventing bullying and harassment, as well as information about how to effectively identify and. The next largest category is contracted services at $56.3 million. This year, the minimum wage went up to $11 an hour. But after year of COVID-19, a new reality sets in. ; ClassLink Online resources and services for students! Information for vendors and potential business partners, including purchasing and construction bids. 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. 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. I know what symptoms to watch forand Im paying close attention. Paul Nutcher can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com. A step-by-step guide for becoming licensed to drive. The Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! ", 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.