Today is the first day of school for about 116,000 students across Polk County.
Here are some of the changes that will affect you, whether you are a parent, student or commuter.
On the Roads
About 45,000 Polk County students will be riding yellow buses to school each day, according to district officials. Others will walk, bike, scooter or be driven by parents.
With more vehicles and pedestrians on the roads, drivers might want to add more time to their morning commutes. They should also be extra vigilant near schools and at intersections.
School zone cameras: Lakeland city commissioners voted unanimously in June to put 14 speed-detection cameras in school zones outside nine schools. The cameras aren’t up yet, but they are expected to be installed by October.
There will be a state-mandated warning period when enforcement begins. But after that, drivers going more than 10 miles over the limit when school zone lights are flashing will face a $100 fine.
Bus stop arm cameras: All of Polk County’s 511 school buses are equipped with cameras that turn on when the red stop sign arms are extended. The cameras were installed last year. There is a $225 fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus.
School bus mobile app: Is your child’s bus running late? Did your student arrive safely at school? Parents won’t have to wonder this year.
The school district has rolled out a mobile app that allows students and parents to track their assigned school buses in real time. To access it, log into the parent portal and select the “MyReaXiumApp” link.
The tracking system, which cost $920,000, was tested last year. Each bus is equipped with a mounted tablet. Students use their district-issued ID cards to scan themselves on and off the bus. For younger students or those with disabilities, the driver logs when they board and exit.
Tech notes
Cell phones: Students aren’t the only ones who will have to change their cell phone habits this year. Parents will need to resist the urge to text their kids.
A new state law (HB 1105) that took effect July 1 bans all cell phone use in elementary and middle schools — even for educational purposes and outside class time. Phones must be off or in airplane mode during school hours.
High school students can use phones during class, but only with teacher permission for educational purposes. Otherwise, phones must be powered off or in airplane mode and out of sight.
School administrators can designate areas where high school students can use cellphones outside of class time, but PCPS has not yet drafted a policy.
Parental power to ban books: School libraries have also gotten more high-tech. A new online tool allows parents to restrict their children’s access to any books or media materials they find objectionable.
The software — called Insignia — is available to parents and guardians through the parent portal and includes a catalog of all titles available through the student’s school.
Parents can update the restriction list whenever they like. The student will not be able to check out any title that their parent or guardian has blocked, and the restriction cannot be overridden by school staff.
However, parents must repeat the process each year.
Money matters
Sales tax holiday: Florida’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday is longer than usual this year. It started on Aug. 1 and runs through Aug. 31, instead of just lasting two weeks.
Families can buy the following tax-free:
- School supplies that cost $50 or less per item.
- Clothing, shoes, backpacks and diaper bags priced at $100 or less per item.
- Personal computers, printers and related accessories that cost $1,500 or less.
Free breakfast and lunch: Polk County will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students this year. The entire district is covered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision, based on the high percentage of low-income students it serves.
Funds unfrozen: Superintendent Fred Heid issued a rare statement last month warning of dire consequences to students and faculty from a federal freeze on education-related grants, including $20.6 million earmarked for Polk County.
However, the district learned on July 25 that the funds were being released. The money supports after-school programs, professional development efforts, support for English language learners and adult education, among other things.
The district still must grapple with $45.7 million diverted from traditional Polk County public schools by increased private school voucher and charter school allocations.
“The state seemingly underestimated the fiscal impact that vouchers would have,” Heid said in a statement.
Ribbon cuttings: Students at Lake Gibson Middle School have a new gymnasium this year.
Construction of the $10 million facility began in February 2024 and was completed last month. It was funded by a half-cent sales tax that voters renewed in 2018.
The school district also celebrated the opening of a new campus for Elbert Elementary School in Winter Haven.
Looking ahead
Testing starts next month: Under Florida law, public school students are given standardized tests three times a year to track their learning gains.
Polk County students must be given the first of these assessments within the first 30 instructional days — effectively six weeks of school. The September assessments do not affect promotion or retention; they are intended to establish the student’s starting point for the year.
Rezoning is coming soon: School boundaries are unchanged this year, but new high school boundaries are expected to be approved in October. They will take effect next year.
Students who are already enrolled and their siblings will not be affected, but incoming students will be assigned to schools based on the new maps.
Middle and elementary school rezoning will follow.
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This fact seems lost on the people traveling through our neighborhood at 15+ over the posted limit. Even saw a PCSO deputy this morning doing 50 in a 35 – no lights, no siren. Out there setting an example.