The search for Polk County Public Schools' next superintendent . There's no perfect solution when a school board suddenly needs to fill a vacancy: leave the seat empty until 2026, appoint someone to fill the seat, consolidate an election with an upcoming regular election, hold a special election now - or consider other options. } Learn about how to get $$$ for your education. For instance: Should they be innovative, civic-minded, energetic? Crumbley said the issue goes beyond the disruption caused by cell phones. Against that backdrop, the Polk County Republican Party endorsed four candidates for the School Board in March: Terry Clark, Pamela Luce, Jill Sessions and Justin Sharpless. It seems like the majority of people are not thrilled with party politics, the majority of voters, he said. background-color: #db0000; Student safety is Polk County Public Schools first priority. He later served as the chief academic officer for Duval County Public Schools. Learn about the wide variety of school options Polk County Public Schools offers for students of all ages. You have to get the majority so you can affect policy and move the agenda.. The consensus of the board was to move forward with the seven candidates that were presented to us by the Citizens Screening Committee, said Cunningham. In these politically polarized times, though, the races for the Polk County School Board are increasingly resembling typical partisan elections. From a parents perspective, do kids get quality educational opportunities? Learn More. Hickman has also been a principal, school special education liaison, counselor and teacher in Norfolk, and a mental health technician for Norfolk Community Hospital in Virginia. I really do.. Whoever is chosen will oversee the seventh largest district in Florida with at least 105,000 students and 13,000 employees, including 7,000 teachers. Byrd's previous career experience includes working as a teacher, principal, and district administrator. That will be accomplished by surveying parents, staff, students, business partners, faith-based organizations and more in various languages and asking them to select the 10 most important characteristics a student graduating from high school must have. Under the district's current policy, schools can allow students to be on their phones in between classes, during their free periods, and before and after school. This policy does not prohibit the Board from maintaining orderly conduct or proper decorum in a public meeting. Can we attract new business because we have a quality workforce and a pathway for them?, As Polk continues to grow, supplying an adequate workforce, from line workers to executives, is the biggest challenge, he said. This is one of the largest fields weve had, said Florida School Boards Association consultant Bill Vogel. City commission and judicial elections are also free of partisan labels, while candidates in races from the county commission through the Florida Legislature and Congress runas party members. Parents and community members, some of them raucous or accusatory, have criticized the board at meetings over mask policies. Click here for more information Community Resources School board members, helped by a volunteer committee in identifying the candidates, voted unanimously to consider seven people. Become an InvestorJoin us in shaping the future of Polk County. [6][7][8], table#officeholder-table th, td { padding:5px; font-size: 16px; } In this leadership role, he oversees one of the 30 largest school districts in the United States and the seventh-largest in Florida serving more than 110,000 students (pre-K through 12th grade). Ethics, Principles & Core Values Learn about the school district code of ethics and more. All I ever ask for is transparency. Reached by phone, Nolte said he did not have time to talk. He also served as a principaland assistant principal in southwest Florida. LAKELAND, Fla. The search for the next superintendent of Polk County Public Schools is over. The Ledger asked the Florida Division of Elections whether that might be a violation of state election laws and had not received a determination by Wednesday afternoon. I think one of the things that's unfortunate is that we're even having to get into partisanship, Fields said. Price said DeSantis' attempt to influence school board elections shows that he is "power hungry" and wants to control all levels of government in Florida. Heid began his career as a teacher in Sarasota. LAKELAND The Polk County Public Schools citizens advisory committee on Thursday evening whittled 52 candidates who applied for school superintendent totheir topseven. I love this community and appreciate the great works thats happened in Polk County over the last several years; really excited to partner with the board to provide a great education to our students for the future, McIntyre said. Hes learning what the district needs to emphasize to improve, such as graduation rates and reading and math proficiency scores, he said. Clark and Sessions each listed payments of $7,500 to Dunn in their campaign expenditures for June. The Polk County Public Schools school board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[10]. Be in Good Company with top employers moving or expanding their business in Central Florida. text-align: center; There was absolutely no indication of any connection of Mr. Heid to any poor decision making related to the hiring or negligent retention of any employee. Shes been very gracious, allowing me to meet with staff so I can hit the ground running. CCDF, formed last year and based in Polk County with chapters in other counties, has 501c4 nonprofit status, meaning it can advocate on political issues but not campaign for specific candidates. Polk County School Board members do not oversee the selection of textbooks,though they vote to approve the materials used in schools. Are we helping to fulfill that promise? Dear Polk County Parents and Guardians, Spring Break is a great time to get your child caught up on or AHEAD of all Iowa required and recommended vaccines. As parents of a student, one of the things I like about Polk is the variety provided, especially academies, he said. The panel will present the seven finalists to the School Board on Tuesday night. Over the last few days, Ive learned Polk already has a lot of opportunities for kids through your career academy, arts and community support, Towns said. We are releasing this statement as a matter of principle because, at its core, this appears to be a most distasteful and egregious attempt to influence upcoming school board elections by sharing intentionally misleading information. [This districts] growth, economic potential, partnerships with the community is well established. The committee picked 15 semifinalists last week and then Thursday night refined the list againby nearly halfwhen the panel of 36 peoplevotedfor their top picks. Dr. Harold R. Border Chief of High Schools, Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Fla.), Dr. Jennifer Cupid-McCoy Area Superintendent West Learning Community, Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Fla.), Dr. James P. McIntyre, Jr. Assistant Professor of Practice & Director, Center for Educational Leadership University of Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.), Michael J. Ramirez Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Denver Public Schools (Denver, Colo.), Frederick R. Heid Superintendent, Community Unit School District (Algonquin, Ill.), Dr. T. Nakia Towns Deputy Superintendent, Hamilton County Department of Education (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Dr. Antoine L. Hickman Chief of Student Support Initiatives and Recovery, Broward County Public Schools (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). How to run for office | I don't ask staff and students party affiliation. A longtime Florida educator and University of South Florida graduate has been chosen to lead the Polk County School District. The Ledger LAKELAND The Polk County Public Schools citizens advisory committee on Thursday evening whittled 52 candidates who applied for school superintendent to their top seven.. Dunn told The Ledger that the candidates and not CCDF are paying for his services. The Polk County Sheriff's Office did a complete and thorough background investigation for the Polk County School Board related to Mr. Heid, and I can assure you that he was fully vetted by our background investigation. Sheriff Grady Judd has also provided a statement to the chair of the school board, Sara Beth Wyatt, supporting Mr. Heid: It has come to my attention that a criticism has been made against the Polk School Board's background process related to the hiring of Superintendent Fred Heid. READ: Outstanding educators in Hillsborough County get surprise visit from superintendent, "It has definitely grown over the years as the use of [cell phones] has grown," Crumbley said. Previously, he was director of the office of school performance and accountability for Broward County Public Schoolsand served as a designee on the districts recovery team responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the districts recovery and commemoration efforts following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Ballotpedia features 395,443 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Tax County: School School Board: County Circuit Court; Appraiser of Elections; Collector Sheriff; . A district spokesperson said the survey, called a "Thought Exchange," will help board members decide if and when they will hold a workshop to discuss the cell phone policy. #LeadershipMatters #NCSSA. Polk County Public Schools, like all other districts in Florida, does not teach Critical Race Theory, a college-level study of how racism and discrimination have historically intersected with American legal and government policies. Traditionally, people who were seeking to get involved were just volunteers, parents, teachers, who were interested in trying to improve education and provide more opportunities for the young people in their district. After being named Teacher of the Year in his third year, he decided to return to school and get a masters degree in Educational Leadership at the University of South Florida. Jennifer Cupid-McCoy currently an area superintendent for nearby Orange County Public Schools. Byrd took a position as the deputy superintendent of schools in Polk County in June 2013. Dunn claimed that he is undefeated in managing the campaigns for 25 school board candidates in Texas, candidates he described as Judeo-Christian Republicans. He said he has two colleagues who work with him. P.O. Kimberly Reicks, a well-known Iowa right-wing activist and Gov. Its a comprehensive experience that I bring, from the classroom level as Sarasota Countys Teacher of the Year to the principal level, having successfully turned around several schools, to the district and state levels. Today ends the search for Polk Co.s superintendent. Id like to see that flourish, he said. The content of the story fails to meet any professional or ethical standards for journalism. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. A general election was scheduled for November 8, 2022. More: Meet the finalists for Polk County Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year. He holds a bachelorsdegree insecondary education and a masters in educational leadershipfrom the University of South Florida, and is working on adoctoratein leadership in education administrationat Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois. } Heid began his career as a teacher in Sarasota. The table below separates the district's expenditures into five categories identified by the agency: The table below shows the amount of debt retired, issued, and outstanding in the district for each year. Updated: 5:05 PM EDT April 26, 2021. PCPS refutes this baseless allegation in its entirety. The local School Board has seen some of the same tumult at meetings as many others in Florida. I look at problem-solving for the School District comprehensively. Allegation: Mrs. Sharp was improperly hired by Mr. Heid and does not meet eligibility requirements for the role of Senior Director of Digital Learning and Innovation. } Additionally, a full background check was performed in accordance with state statute/school code. Elections are held on a staggered basis in the November general election. And to accomplish all of that in the short time we did says a lot about the willingness and sincerity of the people there., School Board Chairwoman Lori Cunningham said Heid brings the leadership characteristics and experiences necessary to take Polk County Public Schools to the next level. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. I would like to express once again my sincere appreciation to each committee member for taking time out of your busy schedules to assist our board in this fashion, said School Board Chairman Lori Cunningham. The search had been narrowed down to five ahead of Tuesday's vote. You want individual candidates, and you want to know what their individual qualities are. I think that leadership from the top is filtering down to local elections. Thats everyone not just the district, but school leaders, the union.. We have a template that Ive patented internally on how you win elections, Dunn said in the interview. Learn about the history of Polk County Public Schools and the mission that is guiding it into the future. The Polk County School Board sets policies for Floridas seventh-largest school district, which employs about 14,000 and serves more than 110,000 students. Apply today! Links to additional information for the community. More than 50 people submitted applications for the job. Find your Board member, access Board meeting calendars and agendas, and learn how you can watch meeting broadcasts. There are a lot of people involved, and they have a sincere commitment to children. You cant mandate change; it has to happen as a collective commitment.. A primary election was scheduled for August 23, 2022. Published: 12:09 PM EDT April 26, 2021. Sign up to receive messages from your school. Information regarding dress code, Code of Conduct, attendance, and Student Progression Plan. Superintendent Search Update: More than 50 Candidates Vying To Be PCPS' Next Leader February 5, 2021 News, Superintendent Search Fifty-two people have applied to become the next PCPS superintendent, and now members of the Citizens Screening Committee will have nearly 1,000 pages of applications to review! CDC relaxes guidelines for wearing masks outdoors, Turnout low as Johnson & Johnson vaccine returns in Florida, Biden to sign $15 minimum wage for federal contract workers, Investigation: Derek Chauvin held a teenager down prone for 17 minutes, Former Bucs, FSU linebacker Geno Hayes dies at 33, Pandemic creates a plethora of mental health jobs, Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter. Elections in 2023 | Clark is challenging incumbent Kay Fields, and Nolte is running against incumbent Sarah Fortney. Frederick Heid currently Superintendent of the Community Unit School District in Algonquin, Illinois. background-color: #6db24f; Heid has been working with Byrd in Polk County during the transition. Sharpless said he does not have a professional campaign manager. Most importantly for me, its about a family atmosphere, Borders said. The CFDC seeks to provide updated, reliable information to all our stakeholders in Polk County. Its salary ranges from $215,000 to $275,000, plus competitive benefits. Polk County Schools Kelly Welsh (Tryon Elementary) Polk Central Elementary School Nikki Gilreath. -Dr. Harold R. Border -Dr. Jennifer Cupid-McCoy -Dr. James P. McIntyre, Jr. -Michael J. Ramirez -Frederick R. Heid -Dr. T. Nakia Towns -Dr. Antoine L. Hickman On Tuesday evening, the Polk County School Board voted to accept these recommendations from the Citizens Screening Committee. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Heid holds a bachelor's in secondary education and a master's in educational leadership from the University of South Florida. PCPS refutes this baseless. Bartow, FL 33831 First, we built an amazing team. padding-right: 10px !important; Who is the CCDF? School Board Chair: Mr. Mike Ashworth. @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { READ ABOUT POLK SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOK CONTROVERSY: Conservative group trying to ban 16 books from Polk Schools, calling them pornographic, National effort to label schools' library books pornography takes root in Polk County, Polk schools superintendent announces months-long process to review 16 books in question, 'This is not a censorship committee': Polk County's book review committees get their orders, Polk parents, educators speak about book bans as review committees are formed, Polk Schools to return 16 books in question to libraries, opposing group threatens to sue. She was previously assistant commissioner for data and research with the Tennessee Department of Education.
} But Jewett noted that politically contentious issues such as mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic and questions of teaching history involving race and addressing sexuality and gender issues have flared recently at school board meetings in Florida. Example video title will go here for this video. This is a critical component of executive leadership to ensure that the team works collaboratively toward common goals and objectives.. She said following Thursday evenings meet and greet that her top three choices areBorder, Towns,andRamirez. He has a proven track record in attaining positive student academic performance, resulting in improved graduation rates., Hes also bilingual in English and Spanish and understands the diverse multicultural students, families and staff members throughout our county, she said. After Luce withdrew from her race, the party switched its endorsement to Rick Nolte. To that end, I am so pleased that he has been in Polk County meeting with employees and community leaders, in order to listen and learn about many facets of our educational system, she said. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Phone: 863-534-0500. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? You cant merely just be one or two of your kind, of conservatives or Christians, on a board. But there are plenty of connections between the group and the self-described conservative candidates. Previously, she was the chief of staff for the Clark County School System in Las Vegas, the nations fifth largest school district. Her board service has been under Superintendents Susan McCue, Bill Miller and Aaron Greene and under the leadership of Ann Whitmire and Geoff Tennant. Catherine Price, chair of the Polk County Democratic Party, said she has long resisted making endorsements in nonpartisan elections but felt she had no choice in light of the Republicans blatant efforts to inject party issues into the races. Their responses will be posted to the super search page. Theres no room for second place. Jennifer Wilson, 70,aretired music teacherand Title I coordinator, attended all the meetings and took notes. Five Polk County Public Schools superintendent candidates in town for interviews, Polk schools' COVID-19 sick-time policy expires, leaving some employees in limbo, Kindergarten registration now open for Polk County schools, Polk teachers see a pay bump, but no raise for paraeducators or school staff, Editorial: All drugs come with risk. The search for Polk Countys new superintendent is almost over. The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. His name would not have been presented to the school board if there was any valid question related to his qualifications, integrity, or his care and concern for the safety, educational needs, and wellbeing of children under his care. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. Mr. Heid was never a named party in the filing we reviewed. "Our teachers are able to teach content more. Like, were not talking about issues in our district. There was not then, and there is not now, any iota of evidence implicating him in any unlawful, unprofessional, or unethical behavior. Jewett said most states hold nonpartisan elections for school boards. He has a hands-on servant leadership style and recognizes the importance of developing a culture of honesty and trust by timely communication with all internal and external stakeholders.. She put together a comprehensive transition notebook for me, talking about every detail of the district. We will report on it every quarter and give all stakeholders an opportunity to get involved.. PUBLISHED 5:47 PM ET Apr. In April 2021, Frederick Heid was unanimously selected by the Polk County School Board to become the new superintendent of Polk County Public Schools. Download it here. Monday Sept. 13 2021. I have worked with Superintendent Heid since his hiring and I find him to be a man of integrity with an extraordinarily strong work ethic, and a professional committed to the safety and security of our children, including my own grandchildren. Gary White can be reached at gary.white @ theledger.com or 863-802-7518 think one of the things I like about is! Variables such as graduation rates and reading and math proficiency scores, he said holds bachelor! 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