As the Polk County School Board was ending its meeting Tuesday evening, Vice Chair Lisa Miller and Superintendent Frederick Heid sought to set the record straight about what they called disinformation regarding 16 library books that had been challenged as pornographic or age-inappropriate.
Category: Schools
Posted inPolitics, Schools
Stranger Things Surround This Year’s Polk School Board Races
This year’s School Board races are the most hotly contested campaigns in Polk County, following a national trend as far-right conservative candidates vow to “educate not indoctrinate” public schools students, as one local candidate has stated on his campaign signs.
Posted inPolitics, Schools
School Board Candidates Highlight Experience vs. Change
Experience and accomplishments vs. change and fresh ideas emerged as major themes in passionate closing statements this afternoon when four candidates in two Polk School Board races faced off in a forum hosted by the Lakeland Kiwanis Club.
Posted inPublic Safety, Schools
LPD Hands Out Speed Warnings in School Zones as Classes Resume
As Polk public school classes resumed Wednesday, Lakeland Police officers gave warnings to speeders in school zones, reminding them that a ticket would cost them $404, News Channel 8 reported. “Pay attention to those flashing lights because those speeds are going to be reduced by a significant amount and if you get caught speeding in […]
Posted inSchools
Schools Policy for Checking Out Controversial Library Books Switches to Opt-Out Only
Superintendent Frederick Heid has decided to return to an all opt-out process for all library books in Polk County public school libraries, including 16 books some deemed pornographic or age inappropriate.
Posted inSchools
Polk Begins 2022-23 School Year Today Amid Teacher Shortage
More than 110,000 students and 13,000 employees returned to more than 150 Polk County public schools Wednesday morning for the first day of the 2022-2023 school year.
Posted inPolitics, Schools
Gov. DeSantis Endorses Polk School Board Candidate Rick Nolte
Over the last few weeks, Gov. Ron DeSantis has endorsed 29 Republican candidates in non-partisan school board races across Florida’s 67 counties. On Monday night, he added one more endorsement, and it was for a candidate in Polk County: Rick Nolte, who is challenging incumbent Polk School Board member Sarah Fortney.
Posted inPolitics, Schools
School Board Candidates Air Views at Kiwanis Forum
Candidates for two seats on the Polk County School Board participated in a forum today at a meeting of the Lakeland Kiwanis Club. Keep scrolling for a video of the full event. Lakeland Kiwanis hosts a forum for the other two School Board races next Friday at noon, and LkldNow plans to stream that one […]
Posted inSchools
Random Weapons Checks Coming to Polk Middle and High Schools
Students at public middle and high schools in Polk County can expect random weapons checks in the coming school year, which begins next Wednesday, Fox 13 News reports. The checks, which will be conducted by school administrators using metal detector wands, are a safety precaution, Superintendent Fred Heid said. The school district is also bringing […]
Posted inPolitics, Schools
Polk School Board District 5: Incumbent Kay Fields vs. Terry Clark
Incumbent Kay Fields is squared off against challenger Terry Clark for the District 5 Polk County School Board seat.