Shawn Fitzgerald, 46, a Lakeland High School special needs teacher and soccer coach, has been charged with 408 counts of possessing child pornography by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, News Channel 8 reports. There is no evidence the files were produced locally, the Sheriff’s Office said. The Polk School district says it is in the […]
Category: Schools
Posted inSchools
Fortney Urges Action to Preserve Distance Learning
Sarah Fortney is urging her fellow Polk School Board members to take a stand supporting continued e-learning, amid uncertainty about state support for distance learning after winter break, News Channel 8 reports. With more students returning to traditional classrooms, faculty being called back from distance teaching include some with medical exemptions, she says. Source: News […]
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Kathleen Middle Still Rebuilding a Year After Tornado
A year after a tornado ripped sections of roof from Kathleen Middle School, students prepare to return to auxiliary buildings but a lot of work remains on the main 1928 structure, 10 Tampa Bay reports. Repairs estimated at $8.1 million and covered by insurance are expected to be completed by December 2021. Source: 10 Tampa […]
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Florida Southern Cancels December Graduation, Adjusts Spring Schedule
Florida Southern College has cancelled its December commencement ceremony and adjusted its spring semester dates amid the continued uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Florida Poly Prioritizing $3 Million in Budget Cuts
Administrators at Florida Polytechnic University are grappling with how to cut $3 million from the STEM university’s budget, as requested by the Florida Board of Regents, Tampa Bay Business Journal reports. That correlates with an 8.5% reduction in state general revenues and lottery funds. Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal
Posted inRecreation
High School Football Scores
Lakeland 44, Strawberry Crest 0 Lake Gibson 47, DeSoto 0 Lakeland Christian 42, Fort Meade 22 Liberty 16, George Jenkins 12 All Saints 59, Masters 0 Victory Christian 34, Seffner Christian 0 Cypress Creek 47, Santa Fe 0 Umatilla 20, Tenoroc 12 Source: The Ledger: Polk Preps
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Report: 3 COVID Cases at LHS/Harrison Quarantined 369 People
Five COVID-19 cases in Polk County schools resulted in two-week quarantines of 100 or more students and teachers during the first two weeks of the school year, according to a school district compilation. Three of those occurred on three successive days on the joint campus of Lakeland High School and Harrison School for the Arts […]
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Three Lakeland Colleges Place in U.S. News 2021 Rankings
Three Lakeland institutions — Florida Southern College, Florida Polytechnic University and Southeastern University — made the cut when U.S. News and World Report released its annual college rankings earlier this month.
Posted inRecreation
More College Sports Planned for Lakeland Highlands Road
A strip of pasture fronting Lakeland Highlands Road north of the Polk Parkway is transforming into a place for college athletes to practice and play. Southeastern University says it plans to place athletic facilities on 36 acres donated by Ed and Mary Jane Holloway just north of Sam’s Club, The Ledger reports. That land abuts […]
Posted inHealth
Polk Schools’ COVID-19 Numbers Exclude Some Cases
School districts in Florida are not uniform in the way they report numbers of COVID-19 cases, ABC Action News reports. Polk is among the districts whose totals exclude students and staff whose cases are confirmed while in quarantine. A south Florida legislator is calling for all cases to be counted. Source: ABC Action News