polk county schools staff hub

Each year the tax collector will then certify the taxable value of property in Polk County in July and the state sets the mileage rate the district can assess to determine its local funding amount. Polk County School Board meetings convene at the District Office, 1915 S. Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830. State funding covers just 60% of the district's mandated transportation services. The School Board then votes on the general fund millage rate, he said. Use the Password Reset Tool to reset your password now. The instruction shall include evidence-based methods of preventing bullying and harassment, as well as information about how to effectively identify and. 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. 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. The District shall provide for appropriate recognition and positive reinforcement for good conduct, self-discipline, good citizenship, and academic success. The district has high transportation cost because it covers so much land encompassing more square miles than the state of Rhode Island, Pitts said. Step 3: Interview and Hire! Polk County Public Schools strives to reduce its energy footprint. Users can also select how they wish to receive communication about their benefits (text and/or email). Egregious acts of harassment by certified educators may result in a sanction against an educator's State-issued certificate. Links to additional information for the community. 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. 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. Find everything to ensure your child is on track to graduate on time. Employees and retirees can submit requests through Benefitplace to change their benefits due to a qualifying, life-changing event, such as marriage, divorce, death of a dependent/beneficiary, birth of a child, adoption, etc. It is exhausting, but I do feel I will beat it. Members are required to set up their own account and designate their own username and password. The intended audience is 6th-12thgrade students and parents. Florida spending $9,980 per student and pays teachers an average salary of$49,583. Yocum said in a text message that the teachersunion has been in talks with PCPS Associate Superintendent for Human ResourcesTeddra Porteous about the extension. The next largest category is contracted services at $56.3 million. School Board of Polk County, Florida The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high quality education for all students. Username. The School Board is committed to providing an educational setting that is safe, secure, and free from harassment and bullying, including cyberbullying, for all of its students and school employees and applicants for admission. The 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. . 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. 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. 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. Retroactive to July 1,2021,all affected hourly rates will be increased to a new minimum-base entry-level rate of $11anhour. 1915 South Floral Ave. | Bartow, FL 33830 | 863-534-0500. Step 2: Search For Qualified Applicants. 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. In 10 years, the Polk County millage rate peaked at 5.42 in 2012 and sank to 3.998 in 2019. He asked his colleagues and administrators present at the session to let the district's lobbyist know about the financial presentation. Polk County School Board. 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 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. We are located in the southeastern corner of Tennessee in the heart of the. I know a lot of the paras decide to work for us for little to nothing based on that benefit.. Anti-bullying Assemblies - e.g., Jaylen's Challenge, Yellow Dress, Omega Man, etc. 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. Employees of Polk County Schools who are unable to access this folder, please email Laura Barnett. Complaints against the superintendent should be filed with the Board Chair. This website endeavors to comply with best Paul Nutcher can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com. Check out your childs grades, attendance, and more! 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. Links to online catalogs, eBooks, and reference and research tools. 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. 103 0 obj <>stream View state and district assessments by grade level; includes tips on preparing for exams. 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. hb``b``*c```w01G30i.F E(|_ PyLsY\&mv e4 Find critical coverage information, insightful plan details, and relevant benefits that meet the needs of your unique life circumstances. She said some contracts have been renewed for up to 10 years and the audit could shed light on unnessessary or duplicated services. Our district consists of 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and a virtual learning academy for grades K-12. 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. Access is anonymous. Polk County Public Schools English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department supports the academic success and acculturation of English language learners. 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. Qvonda.blackman@polk-fl.net Delores Shockley The district operates 540 buses and transports more than 51,000 students for a total of 60,670 miles travelled each day. A step-by-step guide to help students and their parents navigate the process of becoming licensed to drive. The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students. Woolscould not understand why the date had not been extended through the end of the school year yet. 1915 South Floral Ave. | Bartow, FL 33830 | 863-534-0500. In accordance with State law, District staff may monitor as part of any bullying or harassment investigation any non-school-related activity, function, or program. She commended new Polk County Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid, who began in June. Use these tools to encourage collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, and work one-on-one or with the whole class. practices and standards defined by Section 508 of the U.S. Polk County Public Schools serves at-risk students through various alternative education programs. 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 need to reset my password. 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. Thank you for visiting the official website of the Polk County Department of Education. 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. -Serve as Guidance/Student Services department chair for middle school, grades 6-8. If you want to be notified of updates to our website, please subscribe here! InJanuary, district officials extended the COVID sick leave through March31. 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. Pursuant to State law, District students, parents, teachers, administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives, and local law enforcement agencies shall be involved in the review of this policy. Learn more, including how you can get involved! The District shall provide a referral procedure for intervening when bullying or harassment is suspected or when a bullying incident is reported. Information on ESE services, projects, and programs, and resources for families. Library Media Services recently purchased Camerons Collection, a mental health and wellness e-book series for secondary students. accessibility concerns, please contact the webmaster. Quick access to forms, resources, and information. 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. 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). 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. "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. You can search, save, and share with ease. Learn about the history of Polk County Public Schools and the mission that is guiding it into the future. This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. The issue came up. Information regarding dress code, Code of Conduct, attendance, and Student Progression Plan. You do not need to provide the @polk-fl.net portion of your email address as part of your username. Need Password Help? 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. 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). 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. What is up with that? After the revised policy has been adopted, it shall be submitted to the Florida Department of Education not later than September 30th. "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). 1006.147 (known as the Jeffrey Johnson Stand Up for All Students Act) to address both bullying and harassment that does not rise to the level of or is comprised of discriminatory conduct. 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 Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! 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. There are also 145 school resource officers and guardians; and district support personnel of 1,595. 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. Find your Board member, access Board meeting calendars and agendas, and learn how you can watch meeting broadcasts. All records generated under this policy and its related administrative procedures shall be maintained as confidential to the extent permitted by law. You can search, save, and share with ease. 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. 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 student may also report concerns to teachers and other school staff who will be responsible for notifying the appropriate administrator. 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. In addition,all active employees will receive a 2% increase on their current salary level. 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. Work online or offline, anytime, and on any device with myPolkApps, powered by Google. Each principal shall implement a process for discussing, at least annually, the District policy on bullying and harassment with students. There are 13,588 districts in the U.S. By comparison, New York spends $24,800 per student and the average teacher salary is$87,738. The Polk Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that directly supports Polk County Public Schools. Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries. Cyberbullying includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person, or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying. Learn about how to get $$$ for your education. If you would like additional assistance or have 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 . 68 0 obj <> endobj The general fund on lastyearsbills had a millage rate of 4.019, andfor the local capital improvement, which was 1.5. 2022 Polk County Public Schools | Equity & Compliance | About the District | Style Guide, Designed for iOS and Android mobile devices, the Benefitplace. 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. We worked over the last two years as our union to try to be more collaborativewith the district, Yocum said. 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. She shouldn't be worried about her pay.. But after year of COVID-19, a new reality sets in, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. After his presentation, several School Board members wanted more information or called for legislative action on seeing the outlook for its next spending plan. "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. Please Note: Each step must be completed in less than 20 minutes. 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. Learn about the many ways were protecting our students. If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. It should have been extended because its the right thing to do. Polk County Public Schools offers a variety of programs for children ages 3-5. 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. %%EOF 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.' Learn about the ways were safeguarding our students and schools. The total adopted Polk County Schools budget was $2.35 billion this year. Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a school employee found to have committed an act of bullying or harassment or found to have falsely accused another as a means of bullying or harassment shall include discipline in accordance with District policies, administrative procedures, and the collective bargaining agreement. The Polk Schools Staff Portal The Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! 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. Information for planning the next steps of your education and beyond. If, during an investigation of reported acts of bullying and/or harassment, the principal or his/her designee believes that the reported misconduct may have created a hostile learning environment and may have constituted unlawful discriminatory harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, transgender status, or gender identity), race, color, national origin, religion, or disability (including HIV, AIDS, or sickle cell trait), pregnancy, marital status, age (except as authorized by law), religion, military status, ancestry, or genetic information which are classes protected by State and/or Federal law (collectively "protected classes"), the principal or his/her designee will report the act of bullying and/or harassment to one (1) of the Compliance Officers so that it may be investigated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Policy 5517 - Anti-Harassment. Polk County Public Schools Let's get started! 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. Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. The District shall provide notice to students and staff of this policy in the Code of Student Conduct and in employee handbooks. K-12 Students: (username only, do not include @mypolkschools.net) to access Moodle. The district has a $900 million capital shortfall, his report showed. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as aggressive behavior and/or bullying. In-person benefit assistance is available at an upcoming health and benefit fair. Cameron's Collection. I know what symptoms to watch forand Im paying close attention. False charges shall also be regarded as a serious offense and will result in disciplinary action or other appropriate sanctions. For questions related to your benefits or for assistance with Benefitplace, please contact the PCPS Risk Management and Benefits department. 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 andapproved by the School Board during a special meeting on Tuesdaythat retroactively grantsraises and salary increases. This policy is adopted pursuant to the requirements of F.S. In West Virginia, it spends $12,270 per student and pays an average teacher salary of$50,261. 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. Information on identifying and reporting bullying for parents and students. 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. The programs of training and instruction authorized by the District shall include, but not be limited to: Dating Violence Prevention: CDC's Choose Respect. 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. This year, the minimum wage went up to $11 an hour. The law went into effect Sept. 30. 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. Growth: As development comes to Lake Wales, some residents worry about changes to quality of life. 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. "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. Maria Garcia: Food Services Team: Lisa Marie Gill: Office & Support Staff, Paraprofessionals, Title 1 Bullying Curriculum for Students - developed by the District - This curriculum includes education on recognition, prevention, and intervention at all grade levels. The Superintendent will also provide such notification to all District contractors. 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. Use your PCPS username and password to login. 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. 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. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith is considered retaliation. Polk K12 Parents: Forgot Password? Follow us on Social Media for the latest news and updates. 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. Information on immunizations, medication administration, and head lice. There are lessons for all grade levels, plus materials for parents as well. Polk is the second largest employer in the county with about 13,500 employees (excluding substitute teachers). The piece that was missing was Mr. Heid. The issue came upthis week in Polk afterWendell Watson Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Susan Woolsasked The Ledger about it. Safety comes first at PCPS. 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.