103 0 obj <>stream practices and standards defined by Section 508 of the U.S. This year, the minimum wage went up to $11 an hour. What is up with that? 2022 Polk County Public Schools | Equity & Compliance | About the District | Style Guide, Designed for iOS and Android mobile devices, the Benefitplace. 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. website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless Many of the teacher vacancies and other services are covered by contracts with outside vendors such as INVO, providing behavioral support. She shouldn't be worried about her pay.. Such immunity from liability shall not apply to an employee, student, or volunteer determined to have made an intentionally false report about harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying. 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. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. The New Polk Schools Staff Portal - Now Mobile Friendly! Notification shall be by telephone or by personal conference and/or in writing and shall be consistent with the student privacy rights under applicable provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). "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. We worked over the last two years as our union to try to be more collaborativewith the district, Yocum said. Employees of Polk County Schools who are unable to access this folder, please email Laura Barnett. You can visit the Password Reset Tool to reset your district password. Polk County Public Schools offers a variety of programs for children ages 3-5. 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. 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. Use these tools to encourage collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, and work one-on-one or with the whole class. 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. 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. I know what symptoms to watch forand Im paying close attention. Information for vendors and potential business partners, including purchasing and construction bids. She said some contracts have been renewed for up to 10 years and the audit could shed light on unnessessary or duplicated services. Student Home Links to additional information for students. Find everything to ensure your child is on track to graduate on time. Our district consists of 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and a virtual learning academy for grades K-12. 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.' Stephanie Yocum, president of the Polk Education Association teachers union, whichrepresents 7,000 teachers, along with534 support staff and 1,546paraeducators, said she and the 26 union negotiators are ecstatic to get a contract ratified this early in the process. 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. 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! accessibility concerns, please contact the webmaster. 3 Steps To Hiring Quality Employees Step 1: Create A Vacancy. These programs focus on correcting behaviors and developing attitudes and skills that will help students make positive changes in their lives. 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 intended audience is 6th -12th grade students and parents. Polk County Public Schools employs school counselors who provide students with the support they need at each stage of their development. Polk County School Board. "That's something that is really alarming to me.". 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. Anti-bullying Assemblies - e.g., Jaylen's Challenge, Yellow Dress, Omega Man, etc. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. 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 . Computers without web-filtering software or computers with web-filtering software that is disabled shall be used when complaints of cyberbullying are investigated. A helpful overview of Polk County Public Schools Fine Arts programs and opportunities. 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. 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. The intended audience is 6th-12thgrade students and parents. The district has high transportation cost because it covers so much land encompassing more square miles than the state of Rhode Island, Pitts said. Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached atkmoore@theledger.comor 863-802-7514. 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. Information on dress code, Code of Conduct, attendance, and Student Progression Plan. Log In Using Your polk-fl.net Account. This authorization is to remain in effect until withdrawn by me, in writing, with sufficient notice to The School Board Payroll Department to . 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. Qvonda.blackman@polk-fl.net Delores Shockley Polk K12 Parents: Forgot Password? Learn about how to get $$$ for your education. Library Media Services 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. Valuable information and resources for families who are already homeschooling their children or those interested in home education. . 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. 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. Learn about the wide variety of school options Polk County Public Schools offers for students of all ages. 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? 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. Herhusband, whoalso works from home,contracted it firstand hassincerecovered. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. Mrs. Blackman earned a Bachelor's degree from Florida A & M University and a Master's degree from Nova Southeastern University. Need Password Help? All rights reserved. Polks spending on administrative costs is the third lowest in Florida. Please select an option from the list and click Start. Each principal shall implement a process for discussing, at least annually, the District policy on bullying and harassment with students. Please Note: Each step must be completed in less than 20 minutes. 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. Polk County Schools does get special revenues, including title funds, food service and other grants of $188 million, Pitts said. 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. %PDF-1.5 % Camerons Collection can also be accessed through ClassLink, the Gale GVLR site, or each schools Destiny homepage. Polk County Board of Education meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the second Monday of each month. Is the 10 days no longer a thing? Information regarding dress code, Code of Conduct, attendance, and Student Progression Plan. Library Media Services recently purchased Camerons Collection, a mental health and wellness e-book series for secondary students. Access is anonymous. 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. TDOE has a preview site located here. Coronavirus Information A place for current employees 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. He asked his colleagues and administrators present at the session to let the district's lobbyist know about the financial presentation. 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. 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. Maria Garcia: Food Services Team: Lisa Marie Gill: Office & Support Staff, Paraprofessionals, Title 1 No Registration is required. The district operates 540 buses and transports more than 51,000 students for a total of 60,670 miles travelled each day. 2023 www.theledger.com. 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 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. As for Wools, she was in the emergency room on Thursday with worsening symptoms COVID pneumonia. Check your childs grades, attendance, and more. respond to bullying in schools. The general fund on lastyearsbills had a millage rate of 4.019, andfor the local capital improvement, which was 1.5. The Superintendent will also provide such notification to all District contractors. "In collaboration with our union and the districts newadministration,we were able to make strides in getting a settlement for our supportstaff.. Best of all, PBS LearningMedia is free for educators. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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 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. Steps for getting your child started at Polk County Public Schools. The bulk of the current general fund budget goes toward salaries and . Information on immunizations, medication administration, and head lice. View state and district assessments by grade level; includes tips on preparing for exams. 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. Accelerated Academic Programs Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. Learn more, including how you can get involved! The current general fund was set at $1.167 billion. Follow us on Social Media for the latest news and updates. Cameron's Collection. The doctor gave hera prescriptionandsent her home. There will be no changes to the district's health insurance plan. 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. If the action is within the scope of the District, District procedures for bullying and/or harassment shall be followed. Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries. Using that information, it bases the state's financial contribution to school districts on the number of full-time students the district teaches. Information for planning the next steps of your education and beyond. 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. Why Polk School District? The District shall provide notice to students and staff of this policy in the Code of Student Conduct and in employee handbooks. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. Learn about the history of Polk County Public Schools and the mission that is guiding it into the future. We are located in the southeastern corner of Tennessee in the heart of the. 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. This did elapse, according to the memorandum of understanding with the Polk Education Association, PCPSspokesman Jason Geary said in a statement Friday. The instruction shall include evidence-based methods of preventing bullying and harassment, as well as information about how to effectively identify and. 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. I have forgotten my password and security questions. I need to reset my password. 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. Links to online catalogs, eBooks, and reference and research tools. Charter school monies pass through the district coffers and that is expected to be $128 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. "Bullying" means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one (1) or more students or employees. So,ahome valuedat $200,000 afteranyexemptions would pay$1,165.80. 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. Links to additional information for the community. 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 website endeavors to comply with best Student safety is Polk County Public Schools first priority. 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. School Board of Polk County, Florida The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high quality education for all students. Polk County School Board meetings convene at the District Office, 1915 S. Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830. Step 2: Search For Qualified Applicants. Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith is considered retaliation. There is even a mobile app, so you can access the system from your smartphone or other mobile device. The Polk Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that directly supports Polk County Public Schools. You do not need to provide the @polk-fl.net portion of your email address as part of your username. Users can also select how they wish to receive communication about their benefits (text and/or email). We serve over 7,800 students across eleven schools throughout the Polk County community. 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 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. 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. The meetings are held in the Board Room at the Stearns Education Center. For questions related to your benefits or for assistance with Benefitplace, please contact the PCPS Risk Management and Benefits department. School Board member Lisa Miller said she wants to see the employee contribution left at zero,especiallyfor staff and paraeducators. The District shall provide for appropriate recognition and positive reinforcement for good conduct, self-discipline, good citizenship, and academic success. State funding covers just 60% of the district's mandated transportation services. Fieldsattended via zoom,Sarah Fortney was at a function for international teachers, and Lynn Wilson had a prior engagement and arrived late. The Student Progression Plan describes requirements for students to be promoted to the next grade. Pitts said the decade-long losses in revenues because of millage rollbacks amounted to nearly $271 million. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. Flyers, posters, and bookmarks are being distributed at schools with QR codes for easy access. Individuals who are interested in addressing the School Board on a particular issue must register in person, at the meeting location, starting 30 minutes prior to the meeting. 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. 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. 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. Information on identifying and reporting bullying. View school menus and replenish your accounts. Those at the top of their respectivesalaryschedules will receive a 3% increase,in addition to the above 2% increase. "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. We are always striving to improve the accessibility standards of our The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. 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. A step-by-step guide for becoming licensed to drive. The procedure will include: referral of a student to the collaborative problem-solving team (or equivalent school-based team with a problem-solving focus) for consideration of appropriate services is made through the school problem-solving process by school personnel or parent to the principal/designee; referral of school or area/District personnel to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for consideration of appropriate services will be made by the administrator; school-based intervention and assistance will be determined by the collaborative problem-solving team and may include, but is not limited to: counseling and support to address the needs of the victim(s) of bullying; counseling interventions to address the behavior of students who bully (e.g., empathy training, anger management, etc. The principal/assistant principal or District will make a determination if an act of bullying or harassment falls within the scope of District authority. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board policy and independent of whether a complaint is substantiated. But after year of COVID-19, a new reality sets in, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Sara VanHook Principal sara.vanhook@polk-fl.net. (See the Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida F.A.C. a written report by the principal/assistant principal. It should have been extended because its the right thing to do. 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. 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. 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. The piece that was missing was Mr. Heid. "I am so sorry, said School Board member Lisa Miller. Quick access to forms, resources, and information. 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. website. 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. All records generated under this policy and its related administrative procedures shall be maintained as confidential to the extent permitted by law. 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. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as aggressive behavior and/or bullying. The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students. 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. During this time, Mrs. Blackman was an integral part of the leadership team that dramatically raised and maintained student achievement at Oscar J. Pope Elementary School. At least 16 Polk County Public Schools teachers, staff have died of COVID-19 since the start of school, Polk County School District details plans for $202M in relief funds, Polk schools budget is estimated at $2.2B,but its not as much as it could be, See Florida and federal minimum wages over the last 20 years, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. That's when homeowners will find out what to expect to pay in local property taxes. Reports may be made anonymously, but formal disciplinary action may not be based solely on the basis of an anonymous report. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Polk County Public Schools English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department supports the academic success and acculturation of English language learners. Complaints against the superintendent should be filed with the Board Chair. 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. While Polk's average teacher salary is 35th in the state. Click the icon to log in to ourdistrict applications. Learn about our career academies that help students prepare for the workforce. 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. Work online or offline, anytime, and on any device with myPolkApps, powered by Google. The investigator shall document in his/her report the reasons for needing up to an additional ten (10) days.