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

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.