Rick Nolte, who received the backing of Gov. Ron DeSantis and conservative activist organizations, unseated one-term incumbent Sarah Fortney from the Polk County School Board today in an election that saw the return of 20-year School Board veteran Kay Fields and the victory of newcomer Justin Sharpless. Incumbent Lisa Miller faces a Nov. 8 runoff […]
Tag: Polk County School Board
Posted inEducation, Politics
School Officials Address ‘Disinformation’ About Controversial Library Books
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.
Posted inEducation
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 inEducation, Politics
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 inEducation
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 inEducation
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 inPeople, Politics
School Board District 7: Miller, Quary and Sessions
The campaign for the District 7 seat on the Polk County School Board seat is a three-way race between incumbent Lisa Miller, and newcomers Dell Quary and Jill Sessions. Voting takes place on Aug. 23 in the nonpartisan election, and all registered voters in Polk County can participate regardless of party registration.
Posted inPeople, Politics
Newcomers Jones and Sharpless Vie For School Board District 6 Seat
Political newcomers Justin Sharpless and Sara Jones are vying for the District 6 seat on the Polk County School Board in the Aug. 23 primary. School Board races are non-partisan so all registered voters in Polk County can participate.
Posted inEducation, Politics
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 inPeople, Politics
Polk School Board District 3: Veteran Educators Rick Nolte and Incumbent Sarah Fortney
Incumbent Sarah Fortney is hoping for a second, four-year term in the District 3 seat on the Polk County School Board. Rick Nolte hopes to defeat her in the Aug. 23 primary so he can begin his first term.
