These programs focus on correcting behaviors and developing attitudes and skills that will help students make positive changes in their lives. School Board member Lisa Miller said she wants to see the employee contribution left at zero,especiallyfor staff and paraeducators. 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. The bulk of the current general fund budget goes toward salaries and benefits at $625 million. We are located in the southeastern corner of Tennessee in the heart of the. Learn about how to get $$$ for your education. There are also 145 school resource officers and guardians; and district support personnel of 1,595. Learn about our career academies that help students prepare for the workforce. The School Board then votes on the general fund millage rate, he said. The Staff Portal has been redesigned to be easier to use on a large variety of devices. "Cyberstalking" means to engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose. Florida spending $9,980 per student and pays teachers an average salary of$49,583. . But after year of COVID-19, a new reality sets in. I know a lot of the paras decide to work for us for little to nothing based on that benefit.. You can search, save, and share with ease. Step - 1: Welcome I have forgotten my password or my password has expired. View school menus and replenish your accounts. 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. You can visit the Password Reset Tool to reset your district password. Step 3: Interview and Hire! 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. Find your Board member, access Board meeting calendars and agendas, and learn how you can watch meeting broadcasts. 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. Lakeland, Florida Area. The development of such an atmosphere requires respect for self and others, as well as for District and community property on the part of students, staff, and community members. View state and district assessments by grade level; includes tips on preparing for exams. 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. 2023 www.theledger.com. 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. %PDF-1.5 % 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. ; Accelerated Academic Programs Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. 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. I just put my absence in as my own sick leave.. InJanuary, district officials extended the COVID sick leave through March31. Each principal shall implement a process for discussing, at least annually, the District policy on bullying and harassment with students. 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. ; ClassLink Online resources and services for students! 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. 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. Many of the teacher vacancies and other services are covered by contracts with outside vendors such as INVO, providing behavioral support. 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. This policy is adopted pursuant to the requirements of F.S. home of the beautiful Ocoee, Conasauga, and Hiwassee Rivers and the Cherokee National Forest! The New Polk Schools Staff Portal - Now Mobile Friendly! A step-by-step guide for becoming licensed to drive. 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. 103 0 obj <>stream 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. This authorization is to remain in effect until withdrawn by me, in writing, with sufficient notice to The School Board Payroll Department to . If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. Best of all, PBS LearningMedia is free for educators. Learn about Polk County Public Schools athletics programs and how your child can join the team! The next work session and board meeting will take place Oct. 26 at the Jim Miles Center in Highland City. While Polk's average teacher salary is 35th in the state. Coronavirus Information A place for current employees Retroactive to July 1,2021,all affected hourly rates will be increased to a new minimum-base entry-level rate of $11anhour. Valuable information and resources for families who are already homeschooling their children or those interested in home education. Coastal counties tend to have higher real estate values and their local property taxes generate more revenues for education. Qvonda.blackman@polk-fl.net Delores Shockley Library Media Services recently purchased Cameron's Collection, a mental health and wellness e-book series for secondary students. The issue came up. 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. . Learn about the many ways were protecting our students. ", 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 District shall provide for appropriate recognition and positive reinforcement for good conduct, self-discipline, good citizenship, and academic success. Information on identifying and reporting bullying for parents and students. Computers without web-filtering software or computers with web-filtering software that is disabled shall be used when complaints of cyberbullying are investigated. The district has a $900 million capital shortfall, his report showed. "Bullying" means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one (1) or more students or employees. They can share this with their significant other if they want that person to handle benefit-related matters. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board policy and independent of whether a complaint is substantiated. Learn about the ways were safeguarding our students and schools. There are lessons for all grade levels, plus materials for parents as well. ; College and Career Readiness Information for planning the next steps of your education and beyond. accessibility concerns, please contact the webmaster. hmo0w>?HS%eZHFPA6u~wNMQ $ YFm{0D1JR K"XfF6ED#Fshb. 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. 1915 South Floral Ave. | Bartow, FL 33830 | 863-534-0500. I know my password and it has not expired. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger. Eligible employees who worked one day more than half the 2020-21 contract year will advance one salary level. Those at the top of their respectivesalaryschedules will receive a 3% increase,in addition to the above 2% increase. The intended audience is 6th-12thgrade students and parents. The current general fund was set at $1.167 billion. Password. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as aggressive behavior and/or bullying. 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. Its not rocket science.. 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. Flyers, posters, and bookmarks are being distributed at schools with QR codes for easy access. Learn more, including how you can get involved! Members are required to set up their own account and designate their own username and password. Polk County HUB ; Staff List; Annual Accountability; . Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. Polk County Public Schools strives to reduce its energy footprint. 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. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Another, Kelly Services, provides the district with staff, including substitute teachers. Anti-bullying Assemblies - e.g., Jaylen's Challenge, Yellow Dress, Omega Man, etc. Access is anonymous. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. The Student Progression Plan describes requirements for students to be promoted to the next grade. During the first semester, the Superintendent shall inform school staff, parents/guardians/other persons responsible for the welfare of a student of the District's student safety and violence prevention policy. Extending the FFCRA COVID leave that covers quarantines through the remainder of the school year is a common-sense move, said Yocum, whose union represents 9,000 Instructional staff, paraeducatorsand clerical personnel. Click here for more information Community Resources Since millage rates are set by the state, school boards in Florida have few options for local revenues sources, forcing school districts to cut spending to make ends meet. 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. The piece that was missing was Mr. Heid. Reminders of the policy and bullying prevention messages will be displayed, as appropriate, at each school and at District facilities. 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. The intended audience is 6th -12th grade students and parents. Find everything to ensure your child is on track to graduate on time. Polk County Public Schools Let's get started! Thank you for visiting the official website of the Polk County Department of Education. District Office:1915 South Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830, 2022 Polk County Public Schools | Equity & Compliance | About | Sitemap. Click Here to Change/Reset Your Password 68 0 obj <> endobj Mar 2013 - Jul 20163 years 5 months. Nikki Jones Assistant Principal nikki.jones@polk-fl.net . Polk County Public Schools crisis team responds to a wide variety of situations, including deaths of students and staff members, natural disasters and other traumatic events. "I know that we have not charged anything to the employees and we have talked about it for a long window of time and we wont needtodo it for the next year or two, but I think at some point,that might change, Fields said. . Employees of Polk County Schools who are unable to access this folder, please email Laura Barnett, lbarnett@polkcountyschools.com. Use these tools to encourage collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, and work one-on-one or with the whole class. 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 and approved . Information on dress code, Code of Conduct, attendance, and Student Progression Plan. If the action is outside the scope of the District and believed to be a criminal act, the action shall be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Teachers, CommonSense Media has developed lessons for Digital Citizenship and Literacy. "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.". website. 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. 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. Polk County Public Schools employs school counselors who provide students with the support they need at each stage of their development. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. Egregious acts of harassment by certified educators may result in a sanction against an educator's State-issued certificate. 1006.147 and in conformity with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Model Policy. 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. Learn about excused and unexcused absences, and attendance expectations. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Please use your Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) credentials to access the Staff Portal Admin System. 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. Information on immunizations, medication administration, and head lice. 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. Online resources and services for students! 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. Polk County Public Schools serves at-risk students through various alternative education programs. 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. Sara VanHook Principal sara.vanhook@polk-fl.net. You do not need to provide the @polk-fl.net portion of your email address as part of your username. Log In Using Your polk-fl.net Account. The District will not tolerate unlawful bullying and harassment of any type. About 300 teachersinPolk County,bothpublic and private, have contracted COVID-19 betweenSept.6 and April3,according to records with the FloridaDepartment of Health. 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. We ask all members (even if you do not plan to make changes) to login and verify their data and update their life insurance beneficiary information. This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. Paul Nutcher can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com. Yocum said in a text message that the teachersunion has been in talks with PCPS Associate Superintendent for Human ResourcesTeddra Porteous about the extension. There is even a mobile app, so you can access the system from your smartphone or other mobile device. 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. 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. Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. Cunningham and Fields left before the vote was takenduring a special meeting at 11 a.m., although the work session, set to run from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., had been scheduled months in advance. Our district consists of 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and a virtual learning academy for grades K-12. 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. Their adult daughter, Jenna,alsogotsickand has recovered. (See the Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida F.A.C. 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. Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith is considered retaliation. For property taxes, the Polk County School Board has two-line items on the property tax bill, the general fund and local capital improvement, said Joe Tedder, Polk County Tax Collector. 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. As for Wools, she was in the emergency room on Thursday with worsening symptoms COVID pneumonia. 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. Employees are not required to contribute to the districts self-insuredplan, but do pay for spouses and dependents. Find out dates for spring and winter break, early release days, and more. 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. has the effect of disrupting the orderly operation of a school. Why Polk School District? School Board of Polk County, Florida The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high quality education for all students. Sign up to receive messages from your school. Pitts said the decade-long losses in revenues because of millage rollbacks amounted to nearly $271 million. endstream endobj startxref 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. 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. View state and district assessments by grade level, including tips on preparing for exams. In 10 years, the Polk County millage rate peaked at 5.42 in 2012 and sank to 3.998 in 2019. PCPS and the PEA signed a memorandum of understanding on this issue, which did not need a votefromthe School Board. A school employee, school volunteer, students, parent/guardian, or other persons who promptly reports in good faith an act of bullying or harassment to the appropriate school official and who makes this report in compliance with the procedures set forth in District policy is immune from a cause of action for damages arising out of the reporting itself or any failure to remedy the reported incident. It was like getting hit by a train and trying to breathe with an elephant sitting on you,saidWools, who rarely gets sick. The general fund on lastyearsbills had a millage rate of 4.019, andfor the local capital improvement, which was 1.5. 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. 0 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. Polk County also has unique challenges having both a rural and urban population as well as being an inland county, Pitts said. She said there was simply no way she would be able to teach from home, as she has been doing throughouttheschool year to try to avoid getting sick. 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.' Username. 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. Jason Pitts, the districts chief of staff for the superintendents office, led the budget presentation during the boardsregularly scheduled work session Tuesday. Quick access to forms, resources, and information. The Polk Schools Staff Portal The Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! School Board Member Lisa Miller said she was interested in seeing an in-progress efficiency audit of current contracted services with the district. respond to bullying in 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. Learn about the history of Polk County Public Schools and the mission that is guiding it into the future. -Serve as Guidance/Student Services department chair for middle school, grades 6-8. Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries. We worked over the last two years as our union to try to be more collaborativewith the district, Yocum said. "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. 6A-10.081). Camerons Collection can also be accessed through ClassLink, the Gale GVLR site, or each schools Destiny homepage. All records generated under this policy and its related administrative procedures shall be maintained as confidential to the extent permitted by law. The doctor gave hera prescriptionandsent her home. 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. Forgot Your Password? Polk K12 Parents: Forgot Password? ".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. Please Note: Each step must be completed in less than 20 minutes. The total adopted Polk County Schools budget was $2.35 billion this year. Polk County Public Schools Curriculum Tech Resources Records Request Health & Wellness Crime Stoppers FortifyFL Family Empowerment Scholarship Florida Department of Education provides educational options for qualifying families through the Family Empowerment Scholarship. 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. What is up with that? Access is anonymous. But she warned that the health plan might not be free to employees for long. 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.
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