District proposes centralized K–5 alternative education program with vendor partnership

Polk County Public Schools leaders proposed on Feb. 24 to reestablish a centralized K–5 alternative education program to serve students with high behavioral, academic and therapeutic needs, a long‑discussed option many board members said the district lacks at elementary grades.

Denise Santos, senior director for behavioral and mental health supports, described the BEST (Behavior and Emotional Support Team) model as a centralized, research‑supported program that integrates academic instruction with mental health and behavioral interventions. Santos said the proposed campus would include four specialized classrooms (early, lower, upper elementary and a flex stabilization room), class sizes of 10–13, and capacity rising from 42 to 48 in the first year with scalability to 60–68 depending on student needs.

Santos said the district would partner with INVO (vendor partner described variously in the presentation) to provide operational oversight and specialized staffing, listing a proposed staffing model of a dedicated on‑site principal, an ESE compliance lead, four certified ESE teachers, 10 instructional behavior support specialists, two BCBAs and two qualified mental‑health providers. Instruction would be grade‑level aligned within a therapeutic framework and monitored through fidelity tools.

Board concerns and follow up: Several board members, led by Miss Miller, pressed for assurances given the district’s history. Miller noted a prior countywide center had closed amid investigations and staffing failures and emphasized transparency: “The school was closed. It was under investigation, multiple investigations from DCF,” she said, asking how students are classified for placement, how long they stay, and how reintegration to home schools will be supported. Santos and district staff responded that IEP teams and manifestation determinations continue to govern placement decisions, that 45‑day statutory removals require reevaluation, and that the program’s goal is reintegration with behavior plans and transition meetings that include classroom teachers and families.

Staff oversight and contracting: District leaders said INVO has been a long‑standing partner and has successfully staffed secondary programs; under the proposed model INVO would operate daily functions while Polk County would retain oversight, including a district‑employed site coordinator for day‑to‑day eyes on the program. Board members asked for hiring reports, outcome data and ongoing performance reporting; the superintendent said progress monitoring would be provided minimally twice a year and that the program would be brought back for a vote in March with site location and data‑reporting frequency to be specified.

Next steps: Staff will present a formal proposal, location recommendations and data‑reporting plans at the March board meeting; board members asked for additional recruitment, oversight, and staffing data prior to final approval.