Back to School

This year, we are kicking off a new public awareness campaign with the mission of keeping our kids safe as they travel to and from school.

Last year, there were several incidents of vehicles injuring students, including one student who lost his life. Many accidents are easily preventable if we all just avoid distractions and take extra care when traveling.

That’s why PCPS is urging everyone to practice Extra Care Getting There.

As part of the Extra Care Getting There campaign, all of our students will participate in special lessons filled with important tips to help them safely navigate our roadways, such as using crosswalks and staying off their phones.

However, all Polk County residents must do their part to improve safety.

We will be sharing additional safety tips throughout the year. Please remember to stay vigilant, especially as we begin a new school year. Never forget that there are more vehicles on Polk’s roadways than ever before!

Treat our school zones and surrounding areas like you would your own neighborhood. Drive slowly, be aware of your surroundings and stay focused on the road. Our lives depend on it.

Last year, middle and high schools began conducting random searches of students for weapons and other dangerous items. This initiative was successful, and we have expanded the program by investing in new scanning technology.

In addition to handheld metal detector wands, we now also have walk-through devices. The process will be more efficient and increase the number of students who can be screened on campus. These walk-through devices will also be utilized at various sporting events.

We will continue to administer stricter penalties for students who make threats. We urge parents to help reinforce that this type of behavior is unacceptable and carries serious consequences. Threats will immediately lead to suspension, and students could also face expulsion from school and placement in an alternative education program. PCPS will work closely with law enforcement to investigate every incident thoroughly, which can lead to criminal charges.

We have many other security measures in place to keep our campuses safe. Here are just a few:

• All schools have security cameras throughout their campuses.
• All schools are secured daily to prevent trespassers.
• Schools have front door security systems to restrict access to the campus.
• Schools have one or more armed and extensively trained school resource officers (traditional law enforcement officers), or school safety guardians (district employees trained by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office).
• All school have lockdown alert systems.
• School and district staff complete a variety of scenario-based training (e.g., tornado, fire, evacuation, lockdown, or act of violence) every year.
• School staff and students conduct safety drills every year to ensure they know what to do in the event of an emergency.
• Students and staff are required to wear their ID badges daily.

Chronic absenteeism remains one of our greatest challenges to academic achievement. Please help reinforce the importance of good attendance with your children. Research proves that students who regularly miss class easily fall behind in their studies.

If your child is experiencing chronic absenteeism, our Community Outreach Facilitators will reach out and conduct home visits. Their focus is to partner with families to develop strategies for getting students back into the classroom, or keeping them learning while they’re away.

It is important to remember that students and staff members should stay home if they have received a positive test for COVID.

Students and staff with who are positive for COVID can return to school when one of the following criteria are met:

• Five days have passed since the day symptoms started, the person is fever-free for 24 hours and all other symptoms are improving -OR-
• A person has a doctor’s note allowing them to return to school/work before five days have passed -OR-
• A person has a negative COVID test and is asymptomatic.

Calculating Return to School Date:

To calculate your child’s return to school date, you will need the date your child’s symptoms started.  If your student tested positive and has no symptoms, then you should use the date your child was tested.

The day your child’s symptoms start, or the date of your child tested positive, is Day Zero. Then count five calendar days from Day Zero.  Your child may return to school on Day Six.

All PCPS students may receive breakfast and lunch daily at no charge. No forms are required.