[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6576460,"mediaKeyId","3096735-92c34d8c9130b568a28359d514ee8210","parentId",3096735,"title","Parents and students press board on school‑zone flashers, facilities and alleged teacher misconduct","audioSeconds",1575,"startMs",4391000,"endMs",5966000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096735-92c34d8c9130b568a28359d514ee8210&start=4391&end=5966","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096735-92c34d8c9130b568a28359d514ee8210/thumbnail_4391000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576460/Florida/Parents-and-students-press-board-on-schoolzone-flashers-facilities-and-alleged-teacher-misconduct","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576460-cccf826543c88d945ecccc5ccaca6644/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139835&Signature=CtLwx6leW4BXe6bMTLlqH1U4X2z~MAgL3ck329OBfsyau77qhAdSEcZBLbuf1ASjfkH2~g0tTCk1oNNMLWphY~g3ieEN8CmPLzehVsLqoOC7HMjdb8DlAHF8i9WQcvd5say4QrYL-zlxJA8VXjqeJWZG3~o5d~FnDPmvGopp-9rGR5i5WQinNXwU3ITE4FEWgAxBstk4J9DXZ4RhQkDHT6odL91OsY~w0Q6eRAynYIltK1z8TKj5QVG2BDe6UDChGLh5vjLi2N0Nti-JNrTGRBUGMPbgseeJlq6yfE~B8RKP1rltBo05AM43QI9JrM4o12dpe59B1fCpdm9iqRGwJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Polk County Public Schools","date","2025-04-23T16:14:09.523Z","article","Parents and students used the April 22 Polk County School Board public‑comment period to press for faster safety work at school zones, facility upgrades and changes to school schedules and to report alleged inappropriate conduct by a teacher.

A parent request for flashers: Stephanie Yocom, a parent and PTO officer at Carlton Palmore Elementary (spelled in the meeting as Carlton Palmer), told the board that Cleveland Heights in front of her child’s school lacks flashing school‑zone lights and that drivers routinely speed during school zone hours. She said signage is present but the times are incorrect and asked the school board to coordinate with Lakeland city officials and the county to install flashers at that campus and others. Superintendent Hyde and staff responded that district staff are working with municipal partners, noted a prior practice of the district purchasing flashers and the municipality maintaining them, and said their “flawless opening” safety audit for schools will produce a plan and updates. Hyde also noted equipment supply constraints—some school‑zone flashers are on back order.

Student group raises schedule, restroom and equity issues: Octavio Hernandez, a teacher at Haines City High School, brought a group from the school’s student club Nueva (Nuevo/Nueva) to speak. Student leaders told the board they would like schedule changes that include fewer daily classes and built‑in breaks, saying longer periods and heavy after‑school workloads contribute to stress and student burnout. Student speakers proposed exploring block schedules (three to four classes per day) to allow deeper classroom time and study during the school day. Students also asked the board to address inadequate restroom access at Haines City High, where large enrollment and a small number of stalls create long waits; a student suggested adding portable restroom units near high‑traffic buildings. Other student requests included fundraising and community events to support upgrades to sports facilities and installation of sanitary‑product dispensers and disposal bins in girls’ restrooms; students said lack of supplies can cause embarrassment and health issues.

Alleged inappropriate conduct at Lakeland Highlands Middle: Two speakers described allegations of sexualized behavior by a teacher at Lakeland Highlands Middle School. Joel Vogel, identifying himself as a parent of a seventh‑grader, said his daughter reported the teacher had made comments about students having crushes on teachers, said “age is just a number,” and had in multiple instances stood very close to and touched female students, including rubbing shoulders and breathing on students’ necks. Vogel said the district’s investigation had concluded without firing or suspending the teacher and asked the board to take stronger steps to protect students.

A second parent, speaking as Ashley, read a detailed account she said came from her 12‑year‑old daughter describing the teacher’s language and physical contact and said her daughter had been removed from the teacher’s class at the parents’ request. The speaker said the student had been ostracized as a whistleblower at school and asked why the teacher remained in the classroom despite prior complaints. Both speakers asked the board to prioritize student safety over procedural delay; board members and staff did not announce specific disciplinary outcomes for the teacher during the public meeting portion.

What staff said: Superintendent Hyde told Ms. Yocom and the board that staff would follow up with the city/municipality on flashers and that the district’s safety audit and a planned multi‑year approach would identify priorities. On allegations of misconduct, no new disciplinary action was announced during the public comment period; parents said they were informed an investigation had concluded. The board did not take immediate action on either item during the meeting; some speakers asked for follow‑up and updates at future meetings.

Why it matters: Parents and students raised issues that affect daily student safety, health and well‑being—traffic safety near campuses, bathroom access and uterine‑health supplies, adequacy of athletic facilities, and allegations of inappropriate staff conduct. The board and staff described processes—municipal coordination for signage and internal safety audits—but provided no immediate resolutions at the meeting.

Next steps: District staff said they will report back on safety‑audit results and possible school‑zone flasher installations; parents and students asked for updates and for board attention to the teacher‑conduct allegations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting | April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parents, students and at least two parents reporting alleged misconduct by a teacher addressed the Polk County School Board on April 22, urging quicker installation of school‑zone flashers, improvements to restrooms and sports facilities, schedule changes to reduce student burnout, and stronger protections after reports of a teacher’s inappropriate behavior.","taxTitle","Polk, School Districts, Florida","taxId",13112,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6576464,"Polk board accepts agenda and minutes, approves interim contract and recommends Green for general counsel",2261,585000,2846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096735-92c34d8c9130b568a28359d514ee8210&start=585&end=2846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096735-92c34d8c9130b568a28359d514ee8210/thumbnail_585000.jpg","/articles/6576464/Florida/Polk-board-accepts-agenda-and-minutes-approves-interim-contract-and-recommends-Green-for-general-counsel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576464-fa8356030986eb3cbde2f083eb3c4bd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139835&Signature=bdoobtxjFdjTHS-UWq9WXzeyY6vOusR4InPzyf9ME~FNOsfvdE2ShNtag5osfBoVbl5LP0~qMMQJxCZXHdeQ~exy~tZ05f8CGlO0OELPkKlBdqGbW2aJaNeerwpqABgHF41pQT-mRmH84NGxr-ik8GWzUakBcUsRFx9tvYv9CBPnfNr3h4ArzOuBieInEOdKl4~g2GvwiSdOP-HKU380kWyiWvgk-Cvw9XQ~LuqjlTdcLSwRtJD~QdDeclshnrwSBqsBnKRwK4uwFpfbaopBqtUM1LVAoQ1ANy~Lhwh7a4vMLZlSDR9-Mr2k1H8~SEaBoELBqS1Hg6GhfcuBAfv7oQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Polk County School Board on April 22 approved the meeting agenda and six sets of minutes, passed the consent agenda, approved an interim agreement with Fortress Secured LLC and voted to recommend a finalist identified in the meeting as Mr. Green for the general counsel position, directing a small negotiation team to begin contract talks.

Board action and context: The board unanimously accepted the meeting agenda as amended at the start of the meeting, then approved minutes for meetings on March 11, March 25 (two sets), April 8, April 15 and April 16. The board then approved the published consent agenda. After routine business, the board approved an interim agreement with Fortress Secured LLC that had been discussed earlier in the day. Later in the meeting the board moved and passed a motion to recommend “Mr. Green” as the board’s next general counsel candidate; the board directed Dr. Allen, Mr. Murphy and others named in the motion to enter negotiations and return a contract recommendation.

Why it matters: The interim contract establishes short-term services the district will receive from a security vendor; the selection of a permanent general counsel follows a multi-month search prompted by the retirement of the prior general counsel and begins the contract negotiation phase for a legally central staff role.

What the board voted on (high-level):
- Acceptance of the April 22, 2025 agenda with noted revisions — motion made by Mr. Keyes and seconded by Mr. Sharpless; outcome: carried.
- Approval of six sets of minutes (03/11/2025 special work session, 03/25/2025 school board meeting, 03/25/2025 work session, 04/08/2025 work session, 04/15/2025 special board meeting — general counsel interviews, 04/16/2025 special board meeting — general counsel interviews) — motions made and seconded as recorded in the meeting; outcomes: carried.
- Approval of the consent agenda for 04/22/2025 — motion by Ms. Fields; outcome: carried.
- Approval of an interim agreement with Fortress Secured LLC (listed as S‑1 on the agenda) — motion and second recorded; outcome: carried.
- Selection/recommendation of a general counsel candidate (S‑4): motion to recommend Mr. Green as the board’s next general counsel and to authorize contract negotiations by Dr. Allen and Mr. Murphy (with Mr. Thomas included in negotiations as noted) — moved by Ms. Wyatt and seconded by Mr. Sharpless; outcome: carried.

Board comments and process notes: Board members described the general counsel search as “thorough and rigorous,” noting a timeline that began with a retirement notice in June and included multiple rounds of review, interviews and reference checks. Some members raised personal reservations about the finalist’s residency timeline but said they would work with the selected candidate. The board asked SGR and consultants for their work on the search and thanked staff for compiling candidate materials.

Next steps: Staff were directed to return recommended contract language and terms from the negotiating team for board consideration.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): agenda acceptance (motion carried); six sets of minutes (each motion carried); consent agenda (carried); interim agreement with Fortress Secured LLC (carried); recommendation of Mr. Green for general counsel and authorization to negotiate (carried).

Notes on public record: The board’s action to recommend a candidate starts a negotiation process; no final employment contract was approved at this meeting. The interim agreement with Fortress Secured LLC was approved as presented; details of the contract (term, dollar amounts) were not read into the record during the public meeting portion and are listed in the agenda packet.","The Polk County School Board on April 22 approved the meeting agenda and six sets of minutes, passed the consent agenda, approved an interim services agreement with Fortress Secured LLC and voted to recommend a general counsel finalist identified in the meeting as Mr. Green, directing a negotiation team to work toward a contract.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and students press board on school‑zone flashers, facilities and alleged teacher misconduct

Polk board accepts agenda and minutes, approves interim contract and recommends Green for general counsel