Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. The current general fund was set at $1.167 billion. 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. Whether a particular action or incident constitutes a violation of the policy requires a determination based on all the facts and surrounding circumstances and shall include: a recommendation of remedial steps necessary to stop the bullying and/or harassing behavior; and. Teachers, CommonSense Media has developed lessons for Digital Citizenship and Literacy. Use these tools to encourage collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, and work one-on-one or with the whole class. Members are required to set up their own account and designate their own username and password. In all cases, the Board reserves the right to refer the results of its own investigation to the State Attorney for possible criminal charges, whether or not the Board takes any action. 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. 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 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. A step-by-step guide to help students and their parents navigate the process of becoming licensed to drive. 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. 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. 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. The district operates 540 buses and transports more than 51,000 students for a total of 60,670 miles travelled each day. Access is anonymous. Learn about the history of Polk County Public Schools and the mission that is guiding it into the future. 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. School Board Member Justin Sharpless wanted something done to improve revenues. He vowed to visit Florida's legislative offices in Tallahassee himself to make them aware of the alarming numbers facing the fast-growing school district. 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. I just want to change my password. Polk County Public Schools employs school counselors who provide students with the support they need at each stage of their development. There will be no changes to the district's health insurance plan. This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. 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. 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. TDOE has a preview site located here. -Serve as Guidance/Student Services department chair for middle school, grades 6-8. Password. 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 know a lot of the paras decide to work for us for little to nothing based on that benefit.. Search the Destiny library catalog, find online resources and learn how parents can give input on library materials. Best of all, PBS LearningMedia is free for educators. Use your PCPS username and password to login. . 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. "Bullying" and "harassment" also encompass: Retaliation against a student or school employee by another student or school employee for asserting or alleging an act of bullying of harassment. 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. 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. Learn about the ways were safeguarding our students and schools. 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. Computers without web-filtering software or computers with web-filtering software that is disabled shall be used when complaints of cyberbullying are investigated. Jason Pitts, the districts chief of staff for the superintendents office, led the budget presentation during the boardsregularly scheduled work session Tuesday. The proposed millage rateforPCPSthis school year was tentatively set at $5.829 per $1,000 of a property's value, The Ledger previously reported. Step - 1: Welcome I have forgotten my password or my password has expired. 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. If you would like additional assistance or have endstream endobj startxref Funded 995th out of the top 1,000 largest school districts. The piece that was missing was Mr. Heid. Accelerated Academic Programs Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. 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). Polk County Board of Education meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the second Monday of each month. Woolscould not understand why the date had not been extended through the end of the school year yet. You can visit the Password Reset Tool to reset your district password. Monthly Meeting Agenda and Meeting Materials Monthly meetings are live streamed. 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. Complaints against the principal should be filed with the regional assistant superintendent assigned to the school. We serve over 7,800 students across eleven schools throughout the Polk County community. In 10 years, the Polk County millage rate peaked at 5.42 in 2012 and sank to 3.998 in 2019. 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. Polk County Public Schools Recruitment and Hiring System. Click here for more information Community Resources Its not rocket science.. Learn more, including how you can get involved! 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. Please Note: Each step must be completed in less than 20 minutes. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. 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. Employees are not required to contribute to the districts self-insuredplan, but do pay for spouses and dependents. False charges shall also be regarded as a serious offense and will result in disciplinary action or other appropriate sanctions. Polk School District is a dynamic public school district located in Polk County, Georgia. 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 . View state and district assessments by grade level, including tips on preparing for exams. 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. 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. 1006.147 and in conformity with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Model Policy. As for Wools, she was in the emergency room on Thursday with worsening symptoms COVID pneumonia. The Polk Schools Staff Portal The Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! "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. Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. Retroactive to July 1,2021,all affected hourly rates will be increased to a new minimum-base entry-level rate of $11anhour. 6A-10.081). 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. Search . We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. hmo0w>?HS%eZHFPA6u~wNMQ $ YFm{0D1JR K"XfF6ED#Fshb. Step 2: Search For Qualified Applicants. 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. 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. It should have been extended because its the right thing to do. Complaints against the superintendent should be filed with the Board Chair. 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. "Within the scope of the District" means regardless of ownership, any computer, computer system, or computer network that is physically located on school property or at a school-related or school-sponsored program or activity. Using that information, it bases the state's financial contribution to school districts on the number of full-time students the district teaches. All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the principal or as described above. In July the district will advertise thetentative budget once data has been gathered predicting the number of students and teachers anticipated next school year. Polk County School Board meetings convene at the District Office, 1915 S. Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830. The instruction shall include evidence-based methods of preventing bullying and harassment, as well as information about how to effectively identify andrespond to bullying in schools. You can search, save, and share with ease. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. 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. Victims of these offenses should also have the incident basis (sex, race, or disability) noted in their student record. The intended audience is 6th-12thgrade students and parents. PCPS provides students with access to a variety of free resources, including eBooks, videos, articles and much more, to conduct research and build literacy skills. 2022 Polk County Public Schools | Equity & Compliance | About the District | Style Guide, Designed for iOS and Android mobile devices, the Benefitplace. If the action is within the scope of the District, District procedures for bullying and/or harassment shall be followed. hb``b``*c```w01G30i.F E(|_ PyLsY\&mv e4 Follow us on Social Media for the latest news and updates. ; ClassLink Online resources and services for students! 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. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. There are also 145 school resource officers and guardians; and district support personnel of 1,595. 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 Student Progression Plan describes requirements for students to be promoted to the next grade. Polk County Public Schools serves at-risk students through various alternative education programs. 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 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. %PDF-1.5 % 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. This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. Log In Using Your polk-fl.net Account. 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. 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. Sign up to receive messages from your school. The District will not tolerate unlawful bullying and harassment of any type. "I am so sorry, said School Board member Lisa Miller. 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. Reports may be made anonymously, but formal disciplinary action may not be based solely on the basis of an anonymous report. The Staff Portal has been redesigned to be easier to use on a large variety of devices. Polk K12 Parents: Forgot Password? 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. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. I need to reset my password. InJanuary, district officials extended the COVID sick leave through March31. The District shall provide notice to students and staff of this policy in the Code of Student Conduct and in employee handbooks. 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. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We worked over the last two years as our union to try to be more collaborativewith the district, Yocum said. In-person benefit assistance is available at an upcoming health and benefit fair. 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. The next largest category is contracted services at $56.3 million. In addition,all active employees will receive a 2% increase on their current salary level. 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. 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. 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. 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. Camerons Collection can also be accessed through ClassLink, the Gale GVLR site, or each schools Destiny homepage. website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless They can share this with their significant other if they want that person to handle benefit-related matters. Maria Garcia: Food Services Team: Lisa Marie Gill: Office & Support Staff, Paraprofessionals, Title 1 The total adopted Polk County Schools budget was $2.35 billion this year. About 300 teachersinPolk County,bothpublic and private, have contracted COVID-19 betweenSept.6 and April3,according to records with the FloridaDepartment of Health. Polk County Public Schools English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department supports the academic success and acculturation of English language learners. Our district consists of 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and a virtual learning academy for grades K-12. Alsoin the contract:If per-student funding, which provides staff raises, fluctuates greater than 2% of the current funding up or down, both sides can come back to the bargaining table to work out a new agreement. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. 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. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. Butler state police said in a criminal complaint that it was a little before 7:45 p.m. Thursday when Dakota Hughes, 22, called 911, identified himself by his name and date of birth, and said he . Sara VanHook Principal sara.vanhook@polk-fl.net. 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. The meetings are held in the Board Room at the Stearns Education Center. He asked his colleagues and administrators present at the session to let the district's lobbyist know about the financial presentation. 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. The District will utilize Florida's School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting (SESIR) Statewide Report on School Safety and Discipline Data as prescribed. Information for planning the next steps of your education and beyond. View state and district assessments by grade level; includes tips on preparing for exams. If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. The Polk County School District operates 135 schools; 84 elementary schools, 24 middle schools and 17 high schools. 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? 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. 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. So,ahome valuedat $200,000 afteranyexemptions would pay$1,165.80. 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. For questions related to your benefits or for assistance with Benefitplace, please contact the PCPS Risk Management and Benefits department. The instruction shall include evidence-based methods of preventing bullying and harassment, as well as information about how to effectively identify and. 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. But after year of COVID-19, a new reality sets in. If you want to be notified of updates to our website, please subscribe here! School Board Member Lisa Miller said she was interested in seeing an in-progress efficiency audit of current contracted services with the district. 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. This review process shall be conducted not less than every three (3) years thereafter. Pitts said the decade-long losses in revenues because of millage rollbacks amounted to nearly $271 million. Growth: As development comes to Lake Wales, some residents worry about changes to quality of life. acting in a manner that has an effect similar to the effect of bullying or harassment. Cameron's Collection. The physical location or time of access of a computer-related incident cannot be raised as a defense in any disciplinary action initiated pursuant to this policy. 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. 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. User Name. But after year of COVID-19, a new reality sets in, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The programs of training and instruction authorized by the District shall include, but not be limited to. While Polk's average teacher salary is 35th in the state. . Links to online catalogs, eBooks, and reference and research tools. Polks spending on administrative costs is the third lowest in Florida. 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. In a separate section, the District shall include each alleged incident of bullying or harassment that does not meet the criteria of a prohibited act under this policy with recommendations regarding such incidents. Learn about the wide variety of school options Polk County Public Schools offers for students of all ages. Coastal counties tend to have higher real estate values and their local property taxes generate more revenues for education. The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students. Is the 10 days no longer a thing? According to the level of infraction, the victim's parents will be notified by telephone and/or in writing of actions being taken to protect the child; the frequency of notification will depend on the seriousness of the bullying or harassment incident. 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. 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. a written report by the principal/assistant principal. Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries.

Gerber River Shorty Vs Nrs Pilot, Ruger American Ranch Stock Upgrades, Subway Radio Australia, Articles P