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. If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. 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 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. PCPS and the PEA signed a memorandum of understanding on this issue, which did not need a votefromthe School Board. 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 Polk Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that directly supports Polk County Public Schools. School Board member Lisa Miller said she wants to see the employee contribution left at zero,especiallyfor staff and paraeducators. No Registration is required. The intended audience is 6th-12thgrade students and parents. Log In Username: Password: Forgot password? 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. This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. Learn the measures were taking to operate more efficiently. Staff Directory Administration. There is even a mobile app, so you can access the system from your smartphone or other mobile device. The District will provide bullying incident, discipline, and referral data to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) in the format requested, through Survey 5 from Education Information and Accountability Services, and at designated dates provided by the Department. The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students. Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached atkmoore@theledger.comor 863-802-7514. Click Here to Change/Reset Your Password Pitts saida reduction in spending for the Polk County School Board to consider would be to start charging a premium for health insurance and looking for duplicate services provided in current contracts for services as budget deliberations continue. The programs of training and instruction authorized by the District shall include, but not be limited to. 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 programs of training and instruction authorized by the District shall include, but not be limited to: Dating Violence Prevention: CDC's Choose Respect. This includes two high schools, one college and career academy, two middle schools, and six elementary schools. 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. endstream endobj startxref That's an importantpoint for many of the boardmembersits part of the recruitment we have for staff, Miller said. The bulk of the current general fund budget goes toward salaries and . There are also three career centers, five alternative education (Department of Juvenile Justice) facilities, two adult schools and 33 charter schools. Mrs. Blackman earned a Bachelor's degree from Florida A & M University and a Master's degree from Nova Southeastern University. Their adult daughter, Jenna,alsogotsickand has recovered. The Principal shall establish and prominently publicize to students, staff, volunteers, and parents the procedure for reporting bullying and how such a report will be acted upon. After the revised policy has been adopted, it shall be submitted to the Florida Department of Education not later than September 30th. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The Polk Schools Staff Portal The Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! Safety comes first at PCPS. TDOE has a preview site located here. That's when homeowners will find out what to expect to pay in local property taxes. 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. . 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.' He added the state lottery provides funding that amounts to five days of the districts operations. The District will not tolerate unlawful bullying and harassment of any type. A step-by-step guide for becoming licensed to drive. 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. 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. Check your childs grades, attendance, and more. Register an account or Add a Student: Click Here 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. 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 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. The next work session and board meeting will take place Oct. 26 at the Jim Miles Center in Highland City. 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. Access is anonymous. Why Polk School District? 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. 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. Polk County also has unique challenges having both a rural and urban population as well as being an inland county, Pitts said. 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. She commended new Polk County Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid, who began in June. Coronavirus Information A place for current employees What is up with that? 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. 1006.147 and in conformity with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Model Policy. 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. 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. Quick access to forms, resources, and information. Password 1915 South Floral Ave. | Bartow, FL 33830 | 863-534-0500. Written and oral reports shall be considered official reports. of technology or ability. Find critical coverage information, insightful plan details, and relevant benefits that meet the needs of your unique life circumstances. 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. 103 0 obj <>stream 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. %%EOF -Serve as Guidance/Student Services department chair for middle school, grades 6-8. "Bullying" means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one (1) or more students or employees. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. I know my password and it has not expired. 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. 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. The district operates 540 buses and transports more than 51,000 students for a total of 60,670 miles travelled each day. 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. In addition,all active employees will receive a 2% increase on their current salary level. Each principal shall implement a process for discussing, at least annually, the District policy on bullying and harassment with students. If the action is within the scope of the District, District procedures for bullying and/or harassment shall be followed. In July the district will advertise thetentative budget once data has been gathered predicting the number of students and teachers anticipated next school year. 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 issue came upthis week in Polk afterWendell Watson Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Susan Woolsasked The Ledger about it. The Superintendent will also provide such notification to all District contractors. The intended audience is 6th -12th grade students and parents. 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. 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. 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. Search . Student Home Links to additional information for students. Log In Using Your polk-fl.net Account. 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. Flyers, posters, and bookmarks are being distributed at schools with QR codes for easy access. Polk K12 Parents: Forgot Password? 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. Online resources and services for students! LAKELAND Polk County Public Schoolsand the Polk Education Association teachers union arein final talks toextenduntil June 4the 10 days of COVID sickleave. 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. 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. Information on identifying and reporting bullying for parents and students. User Name. The Florida Education Finance Program provides a formula taking into account the local property tax base, the cost of education programs, the cost of living within a school district, among other factors. Employees of Polk County Schools who are unable to access this folder, please email Laura Barnett. Discipline and referral data will be recorded in Student Discipline/Referral Action Report and Automated Student Information System. Some School Board members and the Polk Education Association teachersunion president agree. Through the Benefitplace platform, you can log in anytime to see your chosen benefits, dependents and beneficiaries. 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. Many of the teacher vacancies and other services are covered by contracts with outside vendors such as INVO, providing behavioral support. The current general fund was set at $1.167 billion. This year, the minimum wage went up to $11 an hour. If you have forgotten your Polk County Schools password click here. State funding covers just 60% of the district's mandated transportation services. 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. District Office:1915 South Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830, 2022 Polk County Public Schools | Equity & Compliance | About | Sitemap. 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. Another disadvantage to public schools across the state is a Florida law imposing millage rollbacks on school districts, Pitts said. 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. These programs focus on correcting behaviors and developing attitudes and skills that will help students make positive changes in their lives. 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. respond to bullying in schools. Any student or student's parent/guardian who believes s/he has been or is the victim of bullying or harassment should immediately report the situation to the school principal. Documented interviews of the victim, alleged perpetrator, and witnesses shall be conducted privately and shall be confidential. Information regarding dress code, Code of Conduct, attendance, and Student Progression Plan. Pitts said the decade-long losses in revenues because of millage rollbacks amounted to nearly $271 million. 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. There are also 145 school resource officers and guardians; and district support personnel of 1,595. School Board Vice-Chairwoman Kay Fields thankedthe staff for their work, acknowledging that it did nothappen overnight, and thanking the staff and PEA negotiators for including a provision to renegotiate if there is a fluctuation in funding. If a provision of this policy is or becomes illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, that shall not affect the validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of this policy. 1915 South Floral Ave. | Bartow, FL 33830 | 863-534-0500. What You Need To Know About Section 504 A Guide for Parents. through the use of data or computer software that is accessed at a nonschool-related location, activity, function, or program or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the District or school, if the bullying substantially interferes with or limits the victim's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by the District or school or substantially disrupts the education process or orderly operation of a school. Florida spending $9,980 per student and pays teachers an average salary of$49,583. 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. Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. 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. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. 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. 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. We are very proud of our students, our schools, and our communities. Users can also select how they wish to receive communication about their benefits (text and/or email). The Staff Portal is where you can update your address & phone number, view remuneration statements, tax information, and more! Library Media Services recently purchased Camerons Collection, a mental health and wellness e-book series for secondary students. practices and standards defined by Section 508 of the U.S. Teachers, CommonSense Media has developed lessons for Digital Citizenship and Literacy. I need to reset my password. 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. 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. 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. Username. Using our Services does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in our Services or the content you may access. -Organize, train for, and . Lakeland, Florida Area. 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. The general fund on lastyearsbills had a millage rate of 4.019, andfor the local capital improvement, which was 1.5. You can search, save, and share with ease. 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). We serve over 7,800 students across eleven schools throughout the Polk County community. Information for vendors and potential business partners, including purchasing and construction bids. 68 0 obj <> endobj Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as aggressive behavior and/or bullying. 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. Use your PCPS username and password to login. For questions related to your benefits or for assistance with Benefitplace, please contact the PCPS Risk Management and Benefits department. Anti-bullying Assemblies - e.g., Jaylen's Challenge, Yellow Dress, Omega Man, etc. All rights reserved. It is exhausting, but I do feel I will beat it. Those at the top of their respectivesalaryschedules will receive a 3% increase,in addition to the above 2% increase. Search the Destiny library catalog, find online resources and learn how parents can give input on library materials. Rehabilitation Act. This authorization is to remain in effect until withdrawn by me, in writing, with sufficient notice to The School Board Payroll Department to . It was like getting hit by a train and trying to breathe with an elephant sitting on you,saidWools, who rarely gets sick. "We have the issues when it comes to transportation costs but we don't have the advantages of some of those larger districts' coastal property taxes and things like that," he said, giving one example of a financial disadvantage that Polk County faces. "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. 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. 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. 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. Polk County School Board meetings convene at the District Office, 1915 S. Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830. Polk is the second largest employer in the county with about 13,500 employees (excluding substitute teachers). Eligible employees who worked one day more than half the 2020-21 contract year will advance one salary level. 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. 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. 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. Information for planning the next steps of your education and beyond. Thank you for visiting the official website of the Polk County Department of Education. InJanuary, district officials extended the COVID sick leave through March31. But after year of COVID-19, a new reality sets in, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The District will not tolerate unlawful bullying and harassment of any type.
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