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(Sept. 4)
PCPS Schools and Offices Will Reopen Thursday, Sept. 5.
Polk County Public Schools will resume regular school and busing schedules on Thursday, Sept. 5.
Makeup days will not be required.
Click here for more information regarding reopening
(Aug. 31)
PCPS Schools and Offices Will Remain Closed Through Sept. 4, Scheduled to Reopen Sept. 5
(Aug. 31)
Update From Polk County Government: Polk Shelters Will Not Open, PCPS Schools and Offices to Remain Closed
The National Weather Service is forecasting Hurricane Dorian to shift east as it makes a turn north, taking most of Polk County out of the storm’s direct path. The best chance for seeing tropical storm force wind gusts would be in extreme eastern Polk Monday night through Tuesday. Based upon updated favorable storm tracking of Hurricane Dorian, the county has made the following changes to prior notifications:
Shelters: No shelters will be open in Polk.
Sandbags: Roadway Maintenance units will remain open on Sunday, from 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. as long as there is demand for sand.
If you obtained sandbags, please keep them for use again should they be needed through the remaining hurricane season.
Government Offices: All county government offices are closed Monday, Sept. 2 for the Labor Day holiday and Tuesday, Sept. 3 during the storm. All Board of County Commissioners, Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector facilities will open for business with regular business hours on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
The Board of County Commissioners’ regular meeting and public hearings on Sept. 3 remain cancelled. The Planning Commission meeting on Sept. 4 remains cancelled.
Public Schools: Due to the forecast for heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds for most of the county on Tuesday and Wednesday, Polk schools will remain closed.
(Aug. 30, 2019)
Polk Shelters to Open Sunday
Based on the current track and estimated time of arrival in Polk County of Hurricane Dorian, the following public shelters will open at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 1:
| SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTERS | ||
| Polk Co. Health Department | 1255 Brice Blvd. | Bartow |
| Ridge Community High School | 500 W. Orchid Dr. | Davenport |
| McKeel Academy | 1810 W. Parker Street | Lakeland |
| PET FRIENDLY SHELTERS | ||
| Lake Region High School | 1995 Thunder Road | Eagle Lake |
| GENERAL SHELTERS | ||
| Auburndale High School | 1 Bloodhound Trail | Auburndale |
| Chain of Lakes Elementary | 7001 CR 653 | Winter Haven |
| Davenport School of the Arts | 4751 N CR 547 | Davenport |
| George Jenkins High School | 6000 Lakeland Highlands | Lakeland |
| Lake Marion Creek Middle | 3055 Lk. Marion Creek Rd. | Poinciana |
| Kathleen High School | 2600 Crutchfield Road | Lakeland |
| Mulberry Middle School | 500 Martin Luther King Ave. | Mulberry |
| Donald Bronson Community Center | 124 Bronson Trail | Polk City |
Polk County Emergency Management’s Special Needs Program is designed to provide shelter and/or transportation for residents with medical or physical conditions and/or dependent on medical electrical equipment who require assistance during an emergency. Those staying at the special needs shelters have been prearranged and registered.
The only pet-friendly shelter that will be open will be at Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake. Pet owners must bring shot records for their pets, an airline-approved carrying case or crate and pet food.
Reporters and media organizations will not be allowed inside Polk County shelters.
(Aug. 30, 2019)
PCPS Schools and Offices to Be Closed Sept. 3-4 Due to Hurricane Dorian
Public schools and district offices in Polk County will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, and Wednesday, Sept. 4, in response to Hurricane Dorian.
School is expected to resume as usual on Thursday, Sept. 5. Please note public schools and district offices were already scheduled to be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day.
The decision to close schools and offices was made in collaboration with Polk County Emergency Management personnel.
Please be advised that the decision to close is not binding upon charter and private schools. Those schools should be contacted directly for more information.
Again, public schools and district offices in Polk County will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 3, and Wednesday, Sept. 4.
All school activities, athletics and special events previously scheduled for Monday, Sept. 2 through Wednesday, Sept. 4 are canceled as well. This includes the Polk County School Board work session and meetings and Polk District College Fair previously scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 3.
PCPS employee health clinics will be open during regular hours on Saturday, Aug. 31, but will follow the same closings as all other district offices.
We will continue to monitor news and weather reports, but at this time, school is expected to resume as usual on Thursday, Sept. 5.
We know that the decision as to whether to close our schools and offices has a significant impact on our students and employees, as well as their families. We appreciate their understanding and patience. We will continue to monitor weather conditions as they develop and remain in contact with Polk County emergency personnel.
Polk County Public Schools will provide updates on the reopening of schools and offices using the automated telephone calling system for parents and guardians, as well as the district’s website and social media (Facebook and Twitter). Local media will also be notified.
Due to an expected high volume of phone calls to the district office, please refer first to our website and social media accounts for updates.
(Aug. 30, 2019)
Sandbag Sites Open Throughout Weekend
Sandbag fill sites for Polk County residents preparing for Tropical Storm Dorian will be open throughout the weekend. Sand will be available at Roadway Maintenance Units Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. each day.
A maximum of 10 sandbags will be provided to each household to help prevent water intrusion into the home. The following locations will provide sand and sandbags. Please bring your own shovel.
Sandbag fill site locations are:
- Mulberry – 900 NE 5th, Mulberry, (863) 519-4734
- Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland (863) 815-6701
- Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th, Fort Meade (863) 285-6588
- Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof (863) 635-7879
- Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale (863) 965-5524
- Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee, (863) 421-3367
Sunday’s schedule could change, depending upon sand supply and increasing wind speeds.
Residents living in flood prone areas are encouraged to sandbag their homes. To protect against water damage, follow these simple sandbagging techniques.
At the area where water can enter a structure:
- If not working on concrete, a small ditch should be dug just deep enough to go below ground level. The ditch should be back far enough from the entrance to allow room to place optional submersible (sump) pumps into the protected area. The edge of the visqueen should be placed in the ditch as a bottom layer.
- Place the first row of sandbags in ditch, fold visqueen over the top of first row, place a second row of bags on top, fold visqueen back over, place a third row of bags on top, and so on. This creates an “S” pattern with the visqueen.
- Depending on the size of the barrier, one or more submersible (sump) pumps should be utilized. The barrier will not completely stop water from entering the protected area. However, with the proper placement of bags, visqueen and sump pumps, water, in most cases, can be removed quickly.
(Aug. 28, 2019)
PCPS Reschedules JV and Varsity Football Games
Polk County Public Schools continues to monitor local weather conditions as well as the progress of Hurricane Dorian.
All junior varsity football games that were scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 29 have been rescheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
Additionally, many of the varsity football games scheduled for Friday, Aug. 30 have also been rescheduled for the following dates and times:
| Date | Day | Team | vs | Team | Location | Time |
| August 29, 2019 | Thursday | Bartow | vs | Haines City | Bartow | 7:30 PM |
| August 29, 2019 | Thursday | Fort Meade | vs | George Jenkins | Fort Meade | 7:30 PM |
| August 29, 2019 | Thursday | Kathleen | vs | Lk. Gibson | Kathleen | 7:30 PM |
| August 29, 2019 | Thursday | Lake Region | vs | Santa Fe Catholic | Away | 7:30 PM |
| August 29, 2019 | Thursday | Mulberry | vs | Tenoroc | Mulberry | 7:30 PM |
| August 29, 2019 | Thursday | Ridge | vs | Lake Wales | Away | 7:30 PM |
| August 29, 2019 | Thursday | Frostproof | vs | Admiral Farragut | Frostproof | 6:00 PM |
| August 29, 2019 | Thursday | Winter Haven | vs | Sebring | Away | 7:30 PM |
| August 30, 2019 | Friday | Lakeland | vs | Superior Collegiate | Bryant Stadium | 7:00 PM |
| August 30, 2019 | Friday | Auburndale | vs | Bradenton Bayshore | Away | 7:30 PM |
(Aug. 28, 2019)
Polk County Board of County Commissioners Opens Sandbag Filling Sites
The Polk County Board of County Commissioners has announced sandbag fill sites for residents preparing for Hurricane Dorian.
Click here for more information, including a list of sites
(Aug. 27, 2019)
PCPS Monitoring Tropical Storm Dorian
Polk County Public Schools is working with Polk County emergency management personnel to monitor Tropical Storm Dorian.
There are no changes to regular school operations at this time. Please continue to follow us here and on social media for updates.
Any potential changes to school operations, including school closures, will be announced via automated phone calls and e-mails, as well our website and social media accounts. We also will provide updates to area news media outlets.
Unless otherwise announced, all PCPS schools will proceed with normal operations. Please contact charter and private schools directly regarding storm preparations.
