Florida's Department of Education is threatening to shut down five Polk County middle schools because of their repeated poor state grades.
- Five Polk middle schools have scored a D or F for 2 consecutive years
- State officials are considering closing all of the locations
- Officials have until Aug. 15 to change their minds
Before that happens though, the state is giving the district one last chance. Now, Polk education officials are scrambling to put together an acceptable plan to turn things around before Monday's deadline.
The schools in question are Kathleen Middle, Denison Middle, Westwood Middle, Shelley S. Boone Middle and Lake Alfred-Addair Middle.
All five have either scored a D or an F for two consecutive years.
So far the State Board of Education has rejected Polk’s plans to turn the schools around, but local officials have until Aug. 15 to impress leaders.
"It's a monumental task," said Assistant Superintendent Tony Bellamy.
According to Bellamy, even if Polk officials don’t succeed on Aug. 15 the schools most likely would not be closed immediately.
One change, Bellamy said, is a new agreement with the teachers union that would make it easier to replace under performing teachers.
"We’ll have the right individuals at the right fit for the right school to work with our children," said Bellamy.
The leadership of at least some of the schools will have to change, Bellamy added.
Doug Lockwood, a Winter Haven education activist, said the failing schools aren’t entirely the county’s fault. For Lockwood, the responsibility falls on parents and community members who, for years, haven’t showed much interest in the system
"(Officials need to) immediately start meeting with the various communities in this county," said Lockwood.
This is a developing story.