Polk County Public Schools staff presented a plan May 6 to consolidate or eliminate several alternative-education and virtual programs and reassign staff to address budget pressures and fund negotiated salary increases.

The presentation identified Fresh Start (a dropout-retrieval program), Polk Virtual (full- and part-time virtual options), and Real Academy (an acceleration model for students multiple grade levels behind) as primary targets for consolidation or closure. Staff said Fresh Start serves 81 students across three locations and could be transitioned to existing dropout-retrieval alternatives such as Grad Alliance; Polk Virtual runs at a net annual loss of about $3.1 million; and Real Academy’s three sites could be reduced to two to improve program efficiency.

Nut graf: District staff told the board these changes could yield estimated recurring savings of roughly $5.59 million — a combination of program savings and contract reductions — that would cover the additional cost of proposed salary increases negotiated this spring. Staff stressed the plan is intended to reassign, not eliminate, most positions and to provide placement and hiring supports for affected employees.

Superintendent Hyde and staff said the goal is to reallocate resources to programs with stronger outcomes and lower per-student costs. The staff presentation noted declining Real Academy enrollment and mixed outcome metrics; staff proposed retaining Edgenuity for secondary credit recovery and preserving Graduation Enhancement resources at high schools. For Polk Virtual, staff proposed closing the district-run program and helping families transition to Florida Virtual School or zone schools.

Board members asked about messaging, timelines and employee placements. HR and communications staff said administrators would notify program leaders and then meet with affected staff and unions; a job fair was already scheduled May 13 to offer alternative placements. Hyde told the board he sought consensus to proceed and said he would present formal action for the board at the June meeting if the board did not object. Several members indicated support during the work session.

Ending: Staff will begin outreach to program administrators, union representatives and affected employees and return with details and any required formal actions at the June meeting.