LakeWalesNews.net - Hometown stories that count from people who care

Sports at Lake Wales High School are on the shelf for the time being as the result of a vote Tuesday, Aug. 4 by the charter system's Board of Trustees. The group unanimously voted... — Updated 8/6/2020

Stephen Cornelius had big plans to grow the Lake Wales High School Highlander Band, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now starting his second year as director, Cornelius is... — Updated 8/5/2020

Polk County Public Schools School Board members received an initial look at parents' intentions for the 2020-21 school year during the board's work session on Tuesday, July 28. The... — Updated 7/31/2020

FREE MEALS: With the start of the PCPS school year delayed to Aug. 24, Polk County Public Schools is extending its summer meals program to Thursday, Aug. 6. The meals program was or... — Updated 7/30/2020

Lake Wales Charter Schools has announced an amendment to its policy for serving meals to students under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the 2020-2021... — Updated 7/22/2020

Gov. Ron DeSantis' recently signed budget includes a multimillion-dollar hit to Polk County Public Schools - and district administrators caution the fiscal future could be even more... — Updated 7/8/2020

The 2020-21 school year will begin in August. Options will be a choice of on-campus, online, or a combination of both. These are the results of a survey taken by a task force... — Updated 7/1/2020

Lake Wales Charter Schools officials have selected a contractor to do phase one and phase two work this summer in getting the new Bok North Academy campus ready for opening this... — Updated 6/24/2020

McLaughlin Middle School & Fine Arts Academy in Lake Wales is seeking volunteers to paint indoor hallways and lockers at the school. Work shifts are planned from 9 a.m. to 4:30... — Updated 6/10/2020

Polk State College has prepared a three-phased Return to Campus plan that supports the return of administrators and select personnel to the College's campuses and centers beginning... — Updated 6/3/2020

Enrollment is open at Polk State College for the Fall 2020 Semester, which will start on August 17. Students currently enrolled at Polk State may register for classes through their... — Updated 6/3/2020

In a special meeting on Tuesday, May 28, the Polk County School Board voted unanimously to sign and send an open letter to Governor Ron DeSantis. The aim of the open letter was to... — Updated 6/3/2020

Polk County Public Schools is surveying students, parents, employees and stakeholders about their thoughts on reopening school in the fall. The online survey will close on Friday,... — Updated 6/3/2020

Achievement Academy staff members were honored by their colleagues Thursday, May 21. Grace Doran, a Lakeland teacher, was honored as Teacher of the Year. Doran has been a teacher... — Updated 5/26/2020

It's the scope of Resolution 2019-2020-12 that matters to District One School Board Member Billy Townsend. It reads: Temporary Suspension of School Board Policies During Certain... — Updated 5/13/2020

While many events in the community have been canceled in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, one of Florida Polytechnic University's richest student traditions will continue... — Updated 5/13/2020

Polk County Public Schools' self-funded health plan is on track to become solvent in 2020 - three years ahead of schedule. "Every PCPS employee should be very proud of what we have... — Updated 5/13/2020

Polk County School Board meetings will be conducted next week via video conference to maintain social distancing due to current health concerns regarding the coronavirus. A work... — Updated 5/13/2020

Polk County Public Schools will hold an online teacher hiring event from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 21. Future events are planned for 9-11 a.m. June 4 and 2-4 p.m. June 18. The... — Updated 5/13/2020

Beginning with the fiscal year that starts July 1, existing Polk County Public Schools employees will have the option of being paid twice monthly. "Our employees told us this was... — Updated 5/6/2020

The Polk County School Board is making arrangements to hold traditional graduation ceremonies in June. Seniors expressing their opinions in an online survey overwhelmingly chose... — Updated 4/29/2020

Polk State College is celebrating more than a thousand graduating students this Spring 2020 Semester and is getting creative to publicly recognize their milestone accomplishments.... — Updated 4/29/2020

Polk County Public Schools and Polk Vision have teamed up to help improve internet access for students through a new initiative: Synced for Students. With campuses closed through... — Updated 4/29/2020 Full story

Enrollment is open at Polk State College for the Summer 2020 Semester, which will be fully online to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The semester will begin on May 6.... — Updated 4/15/2020

Starting Thursday April 9 the Lake Wales Charter School bus drivers will start delivering meals to 18 locations along five routes. Meals will be available to children 18 and under... — Updated 4/15/2020 Full story