Polk County Public Schools
Today, the Polk County Public Schools serve more than 95,000 students in grades K-12 with thousands of adults served through technical and adult school programs.
One-hundred-plus years ago, Polk's school district was nothing more than a loosely knit system of tiny rural schools that opened and closed depending on the local economy and population.
Although formal education probably existed earlier, records show that John Snoddy was the county's first official school superintendent, serving from 1886 to 1888.
During this period, some schools were established that still exist today, including Bartow High School (known then as Summerlin Institute), which opened in 1887, and the original building for Combee Elementary, which opened in 1886.
The school system began to expand after the turn of the century, with larger schools constructed to serve growing communities.
New facilities included Bartow Elementary (1916), Medulla Elementary (1905), Frostproof Elementary (1908), Griffin Elementary (1911), the old Mulberry High (now Purcell Elementary, 1912), Winston Elementary (1911), and Winter Haven High (1915).
Several of these schools continue to exist on the same property even though the original wooden buildings have burned or been replaced with brick structures; other schools moved to better locations within the community.
The Roaring '20s brought a building boom to Florida and created a building boom in the school system too.
New schools during that period included: Alturas (1920); Auburndale High (1924); Babson Park (1920); Cleveland Court (1926); Davenport (1927); Dixieland (1924); Eagle Lake (1926); Eastside (1927); Haines City High (1922); Inwood (1927); Kathleen Middle (1927); Lewis (1926); and Highland City (then known as Haskell School, 1922).
Many of the school buildings first erected in the 1920s are still in use today.
The local community has always played a key role in Polk County schools. Many schools adjusted their calendars to meet the needs of the local economy. For instance, schools like Polk City Elementary (1926) and Kathleen Elementary (1950) were called "Strawberry Schools" because they closed during winter months so children could help with the strawberry harvest.
Today, Polk County is among the nation's 40 largest school systems. Its nearly 160 school campuses are as different as the years in which they were built and the students they serve. However, the School Board is committed to providing an equitable and consistent educational program at all schools, and each year the district spends millions of dollars to upgrade buildings and technology as students prepare for the 21st Century.
Board members are elected for staggered four-year terms. In 1998, the size of the School Board increased to seven members.
| Name: | Title: | Phone: | 5-Digit: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pat McManus | Senior Staff Assistant to the Board | 534-0529 | 51348 |
| Jill Asher | School Board Secretary | 519-3780 | 51275 |
| Sheila Phelps | Internal Audit Manager | 519-3781 | 51276 |
| Wesley Bridges II | General Counsel | 534-0773 | 51566 |