Charter school monies pass through the district coffers and that is expected to be $128 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This did elapse, according to the memorandum of understanding with the Polk Education Association, PCPSspokesman Jason Geary said in a statement Friday. The next largest category is contracted services at $56.3 million. Teachers, CommonSense Media has developed lessons for Digital Citizenship and Literacy. 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. We are committed to providing a Check your childs grades, attendance, and more. The piece that was missing was Mr. Heid. 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. Polk County School Board. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The district has a $900 million capital shortfall, his report showed. Polk County HUB ; Staff List; Annual Accountability; . The School Board then votes on the general fund millage rate, he said. Find out dates for spring and winter break, early release days, and more. website. 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! False charges shall also be regarded as a serious offense and will result in disciplinary action or other appropriate sanctions. State funding covers just 60% of the district's mandated transportation services. acting in a manner that has an effect similar to the effect of bullying or harassment. The meetings are held in the Board Room at the Stearns Education Center. The doctor gave hera prescriptionandsent her home. The Superintendent will also provide such notification to all District contractors. "I am so sorry, said School Board member Lisa Miller. Information on immunizations, medication administration, and head lice. 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. Click here for more information Community Resources There are lessons for all grade levels, plus materials for parents as well. In West Virginia, it spends $12,270 per student and pays an average teacher salary of$50,261. "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. ; Bullying Information on identifying and reporting bullying. Sign up to receive messages from your school. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. "Harassment" or "bullying" also means electronically transmitted acts (i.e., internet, e-mail, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant(PDA), or wireless hand-held device) that a student(s) or a group of students exhibits toward another particular student(s) and the behavior both causes mental or physical harm to the other student and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student(s). 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. We worked over the last two years as our union to try to be more collaborativewith the district, Yocum said. Sexual cyberharassment may be a form of sexual harassment. Information on ESE services, projects, and programs, and resources for families. If the bullying incident results in the perpetrator being charged with a crime, the principal shall inform by first class mail or by telephone the parent/guardian of the identified victim(s) involved in the bullying incident about the Unsafe Schools Choice Option, Title IX, Part E, Subpart 2, Section 9532) that states, in pertinent part, as follows: ".a student attending a persistently dangerous public elementary school or secondary school, as determined by the State in consultationwith 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.". Learn about how to get $$$ for your education. "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. All complaints about bullying and/or harassment that may violate this policy shall be promptly investigated by the principal or assistant principal, who is trained in investigative procedures. ", 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. Fieldsattended via zoom,Sarah Fortney was at a function for international teachers, and Lynn Wilson had a prior engagement and arrived late. 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. 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. Check out your childs grades, attendance, and more! Safety comes first at PCPS. 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. A helpful overview of Polk County Public Schools Fine Arts programs and opportunities. 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. 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 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. Learn about the many ways were protecting our students. If you get "Authentication Failed" message or need assistance , please contact the Help Desk at 519-8040.Authentication Failed" message or need assistance , please contact the Help Desk at 519-8040. Password. I hereby authorize The School Board of Polk County to initiate credit entries and if necessary, debit entries and adjustments to my account at the above financial institution named. School Board Member Justin Sharpless wanted something done to improve revenues. 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. Follow us on Social Media for the latest news and updates. 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. 68 0 obj <> endobj Another, Kelly Services, provides the district with staff, including substitute teachers. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. Work online or offline, anytime, and on any device with myPolkApps, powered by Google. The District shall provide for appropriate recognition and positive reinforcement for good conduct, self-discipline, good citizenship, and academic success. It was like getting hit by a train and trying to breathe with an elephant sitting on you,saidWools, who rarely gets sick. The ultimate winner: It takes more than numbers to sum up Castle's career. The New Polk Schools Staff Portal - Now Mobile Friendly! 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. Polk K12 Parents: Forgot Password? Step - 1: Welcome I have forgotten my password or my password has expired. 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. Username. These programs focus on correcting behaviors and developing attitudes and skills that will help students make positive changes in their lives. Reminders of the policy and bullying prevention messages will be displayed, as appropriate, at each school and at District facilities. Why Polk School District? Employees are not required to contribute to the districts self-insuredplan, but do pay for spouses and dependents. Learn about excused and unexcused absences, and attendance expectations. Polk County also has unique challenges having both a rural and urban population as well as being an inland county, Pitts said. Register an account or Add a Student: Click Here 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. 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. 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.' 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. Data reporting on bullying, harassment, unsubstantiated bullying, unsubstantiated harassment, sexual harassment, and threat/intimidation incidents, as well as any bullying-related incidents that have as a basis of sex, race, or disability should include the incident basis. 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. 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. Please use your Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) credentials to access the Staff Portal Admin System. The District shall provide notice to students and staff of this policy in the Code of Student Conduct and in employee handbooks. If you want to be notified of updates to our website, please subscribe here! Please Note: Each step must be completed in less than 20 minutes. He asked his colleagues and administrators present at the session to let the district's lobbyist know about the financial presentation. If the action is within the scope of the District, District procedures for bullying and/or harassment shall be followed. %%EOF Reports may be made anonymously, but formal disciplinary action may not be based solely on the basis of an anonymous report. Coastal counties tend to have higher real estate values and their local property taxes generate more revenues for education. 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. 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 The Polk Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that directly supports Polk County Public Schools. Polk County Board of Education meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the second Monday of each month. What is up with that? Created by the School Board of Polk County Help Desk- (863) 519-8040 or 56661 05/27/2014 5) While 'Redirecting', you will login again to fss.polk-fl.net using your full POLK-FL Network email address and password to complete your webmail Office 365 access. If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. About 300 teachersinPolk County,bothpublic and private, have contracted COVID-19 betweenSept.6 and April3,according to records with the FloridaDepartment of Health. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board policy and independent of whether a complaint is substantiated. 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. Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. But she warned that the health plan might not be free to employees for long. 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? Wools, 53,woke up April 1 withunbelievably intensemuscleaches, fever and a pounding headache. She tested positive for COVID-19 and went to apply for the special sick leave on Sunday. Online resources and services for students! 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. 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. The training and instruction shall include recognizing behaviors that lead to bullying and harassment and taking appropriate preventative action based on those observations. 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. District Office:1915 South Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830, 2022 Polk County Public Schools | Equity & Compliance | About | Sitemap. 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. Rehabilitation Act. This website endeavors to comply with best 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. Information on how to become an approved volunteer and other ways to support Polk County Public Schools. Yocum said in a text message that the teachersunion has been in talks with PCPS Associate Superintendent for Human ResourcesTeddra Porteous about the extension. 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. It should have been extended because its the right thing to do. Polk is the second largest employer in the county with about 13,500 employees (excluding substitute teachers). 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. All rights reserved. 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. Log In Username: Password: Forgot password? Thank you for visiting the official website of the Polk County Department of Education. ; Accelerated Academic Programs Polk County Public Schools offers many programs for qualified, high-achieving students. ; College and Career Readiness Information for planning the next steps of your education and beyond. 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. The Polk Schools Staff Portal The Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! 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 total adopted Polk County Schools budget was $2.35 billion this year. Forgot Your Password? 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. Nikki Jones Assistant Principal nikki.jones@polk-fl.net . 2022 Polk County Public Schools | Equity & Compliance | About the District | Style Guide, Designed for iOS and Android mobile devices, the Benefitplace. Eligible employees who worked one day more than half the 2020-21 contract year will advance one salary level. 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.