LAKELAND Following two-hour interviews witheachof the five candidates for school superintendent, tours of Polk County, a livevirtualquestion and answer session, breakfasts, as well as lunches and dinnerswith prominent Polk citizens, it is now time for the Polk County SchoolBoard to offer a job to a candidate the majority of them agree upon. He is a United States Navy veteran. He was a principal andassistant principalin Orange County and a teacher in Sarasota. He also served as a principaland assistant principal in southwest Florida. 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. We will report on it every quarter and give all stakeholders an opportunity to get involved.. Why do so this time? .partytd.Gray { 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. So, I mean, it makes sense for them to get behind a conservative.. Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. "The mental health aspect, as far as I'm concerned, is one of the most important parts," she said. 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. So, were going to be involved in school board races. Ron DeSantis has involved himself in school board elections to a degree not seen from any governor in recent memory. Updated: 6:20 PM EDT March 29, 2021 BARTOW, Fla. It comes down to six. } CCDFs podcast recently featured an interview with James Dunn, who serves as campaign manager for Clark, Nolte and Sessions. Miller and Fortney said they do not have paid campaign managers. POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) - A school board member in Polk County lost narrowly to a first-time candidate with the backing of Gov. @media only screen and (min-width: 600px) { All I ever ask for is transparency. The board enlisted the services of the Florida School Boards Association and the Polk County Sheriffs Office to assist with background checks on all PCPS superintendent candidate finalists. Are we helping to fulfill that promise? text-align: center; A step-by-step guide for becoming licensed to drive. He also notes the overall level and focus on the district. He points to two areas hes most proud of from his time as superintendent of District 300 in Algonquin, Illinois. The school board will review these responses and meet on April 13 to decide who should become finalists for in-person interviews. Check out your childs grades, attendance, and more! Tomorrow evening is the ceremony to celebrate the 10 finalists, as well as to announce our 2021-22 # . That puts everything else in itsproper place, even if it doesnt culturally appear to at first. Heid holds a bachelor's in secondary education and a master's in educational leadership from the University of South Florida. 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. Practically speaking, the nonpartisan status simply means that candidates cannot campaign based on party affiliation such as on signs or mailers and are not listed by party on ballots. More: Meet the finalists for Polk County Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year. Cities | U.S. Congress | The district one of the Top 30 largest in the U.S. announced more than 50 people submitted applications for the job. The contractwould be for three years,with a salary range of $215,000to$275,000,plus competitive benefits. One finalist went to college in Polk County. Previously: Five Polk County Public Schools superintendent candidates in town for interviews, More on Polk schools: Polk schools' COVID-19 sick-time policy expires, leaving some employees in limbo. Sessions faces incumbent Lisa Miller and another challenger, Dell Quary. Thats everyone not just the district, but school leaders, the union.. New Superintendent Vows to Keep the School District Moving Forward. Learn about the history of Polk County Public Schools and the mission that is guiding it into the future. Frederick Heid currently Superintendent of the Community Unit School District in Algonquin, Illinois. table #officeholder-table td { I trust him. 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. Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's Frederick Heid is the superintendent of Polk County Public Schools. Library Media Services offers a number of services and programs to aid students, school library staff, teachers, faculty, district office staff and members of the community. 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. Frederick Heid was selected from among five candidates during a school board meeting Tuesday night. Those elections are nonpartisan, with candidates not identified as Democrats or Republicans. She holds a bachelors degree in engineering and a masters in business administration from Duke University, a second masters ineducational leadership fromthe Borad Center for the Management of School Systems in Los Angeles,and adoctoratein educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University. A conservative group, County Citizens Defending Freedom, led a challenge over school library books it considered obscene, prompting the district to create panels to review the titles. The local School Board has seen some of the same tumult at meetings as many others in Florida. The community has spoken very loudly and clearly: There is a sincere commitment to see Polk continue to flourish and do well. You know, the whole article on the math books, how race is being entered into math books. More: Kindergarten registration now open for Polk County schools. DeSantis also recently released endorsements for 10 candidates in school board races none from Polk County. His mother also lives with the family. We all have to come to a consensus on things. The district retired $14,543,000 of its debt and issued $29,241,238 in new debt each year on average.[12]. We found a way to continue to strive for improvement and innovation in a respective way that valued staff and put them in a strong position to be successful.. I just do the best job I can for as many people as possible in Polk County Public Schools.. Jackie has great support from the community, a feel for schools and appreciation. The district had a yearly average of $280,304,571 in outstanding debt. She has also taught, been an assistant principal and principal in Orange County. Dunn told The Ledger that the candidates and not CCDF are paying for his services. Become an InvestorJoin us in shaping the future of Polk County. He holds a bachelors degree in administrative systems management from Norfolk State University, amasters in special education from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, and doctorate in educational policy, planning and leadership from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school board will announce their decision on Tuesday April 27th. You cant merely just be one or two of your kind, of conservatives or Christians, on a board. Teachers: Polk teachers see a pay bump, but no raise for paraeducators or school staff, We believe we need a righteous leader someone who knows how to access the wisdom of God and will submit to that, Wilson said. 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. The Lakeland Ledger reports the next superintendent's three-year contract will have a start date of July 1, 2021, with a transition period in May. The party devotes space on its website to the four candidates it describes as conservative. The search for Polk County Public Schools' next superintendent . Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. First, we built an amazing team. } He has served as Superintendent of the McDowell County Schools for 9 years. Neither report revealed anything of concern. It seems like the majority of people are not thrilled with party politics, the majority of voters, he said. Polk County Public Schools narrows superintendent search to 6 candidates: Who are they? 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. Download our app, California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Final interviews were conducted to select the next Polk Schools superintendent, The candidates come from varied backgrounds, Board members will make their decision on Tuesday, April 27. The school district refutes each of these allegations as outlined below. The presiding officer shall be guided by the following rules: No Board action shall be taken on requests made during public discussion unless the Board declares the matter to be an emergency in accordance with current law. (Voting is done county-wide, though board members must live in geographic districts for the election.) How to run for office | School districts | Want more local news? Border and Towns received the most votes, with 31 apiece. There is nothing but opportunity here for us. Being collaborative, were able to avoid the noise., He knows there are things he can just do without spending a lot of time on them, but he prefers to get input on the front end, explaining and building support for an idea. Cumbley expects a workshop to occur after board members see the results of the survey. } They want their cell phones, don't get me wrong. Martin mentioned the challenged books, saying local Republicans are unhappy with the school districts response. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. The contract terms include astart dateofJuly 1, 2021,with a transition period beginning in May. Two local prestigious foundations have teamed to honor former Polk County Schools Superintendent Bill Miller while also providing a local teacher with an exceptional development opportunity. 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? That claim mirrors DeSantis campaign against woke ideology and the Legislatures passage this year of the Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed Dont Say Gay by critics. Clark, reached by phone, referreda reporter to Dunn, his campaign manager. Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. That includes Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was elected in 2019 and is seeking her second term. To win the office . Student safety is Polk County Public Schools first priority. If you have an issue or a question, take the time to call me. Before Heid stressed the importance of leadership within our schools, he thanked his wife in the room for her support. Who are the Polk County Public Schools superintendent candidates? Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger. Judd chose four out of the top five candidates without comment. Learn the measures were taking to operate more efficiently. FSBA, which, among other things, assists districts statewide in finding the right candidate,wonthe contract for about $35,000. Their responses will be posted to the super search page. But there are plenty of connections between the group and the self-described conservative candidates. 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. Leaders of CCDF did not respond to requests for comment. 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). Dunn acknowledged that the elections are nonpartisan but said the Republican Party recognizes the qualities of the three candidates for whom he works Clark, Nolte and Sessions. The COVID-19 vaccines are no different, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. And so I'm always for more voices to be heard as part of the process.. How do we continue to improve? Heid said, adding that he wants to learn what the communitys overall satisfaction is with Polk County schools, beyond grades. Theres no room for second place. Frederick Heid was the first to be interviewed on Thursday. 22, 2021 The search for Polk County's new superintendent is almost over. Tax County: School School Board: County Circuit Court; Appraiser of Elections; Collector Sheriff; . Finally, Mrs. Sharp met or exceeded all the qualifications for the position. She has also been a vice president at Wells Fargo & Company and Bank of America. Kathryn LeRoy was the superintendent of Polk County Public Schools from 2013 to 2016. I think definitely, in the last few years, that the parties have gotten more involved, particularly Republicans and conservatives, Jewett said. She said following Thursday evenings meet and greet that her top three choices areBorder, Towns,andRamirez. I think the particular personalities that they havemight mesh better with our current Board, our currentdemographic, our current personality of our county community, Wilson said. Are we offering a competitive salary? The vote on the superintendent selection is the final item on the. "I do know that we have some problems that we are really trying to prevent from happening or from getting worse.". Polk County School Board Administrative Offices in Bartow, Fl. Superintendent of Schools Read biographical information about the Superintendent. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. State legislature | 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. Learn about how to get $$$ for your education. 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. Antoine HickmanCurrently the chief of student support initiatives and recovery for Broward County Public Schools, providingthe strategic management and coordination ofcommunity resources forthe nations sixth largest school district. Today ends the search for Polk Co.s superintendent. And though the party is promoting him and three other candidates collectively, Sharpless said he is not running as part of a package. Ron DeSantis. .partytd.Green { A proposition does not include items wherever found on the agenda upon which the Board votes in its quasi-judicial capacity. The local Democratic Party eventually responded by announcing its preferred School Board candidates. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk public schools statement on hiring Frederick Heid, Lindsay Sharp, Newly hired Polk County Schools employee is defendant in Illinois lawsuit, Polk public schools statement on hiring Frederick Heid, Lindsay Sharp. 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. However, this penalty will not Links to additional information for the community. Ankeny is located in Polk County. She put together a comprehensive transition notebook for me, talking about every detail of the district. Learn More. An announcement said that Fields requested no direct endorsement but called her the better of the two candidates in her race.. People of all political parties have children in our schools. If not, please subscribe and help keep coverage of the most important local news coming. 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. Information for vendors and potential business partners, including purchasing and construction bids. He was an adjunct professor in education at Harvard University in 2006. 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. A district spokesperson said the survey, called a "Thought Exchange," will help board members decide if and when they will hold a workshop to . Additionally, a full background check was performed in accordance with state statute/school code. background-color: #6db24f; The way there is through the strategic plan., Heid said hes a direct person who doesnt let his personal opinions influence his decisions. text-align: center; 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. Some might be discouraged if it just becomes a more overtly partisan position.. Where are your tax dollars going?. Goal #1 His plan starts at the end: Developing a portrait of a graduate. 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