August 2014 - Access Lakeland

30290-I-0147

City of Lakeland’s Monthly Newsletter

August 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

This month, thousands of Polk County students will return to school to further their education to help them become part of the future of America’s workforce. The City of Lakeland would like to wish every student much success in the upcoming school year.

We’re cheering for all of you!

95,000 520 49,000 53,000 $732.5M $ 1 163 79¢ THIS MONTH, OVER

Meet Your School Resource Officers

Volunteers Offer a Hand to Help Clean Up Neighborhood

HEARTH PROJECT: Warmth for Homeless Children

1.6% ASIAN .7% OTHER 3.1% 2 OR MORE

STUDENTS

BUSES WILL TRANSPORT

44.8% WHITE 28.8% HISPANIC/ 21% BLACK/ LATINO

STUDENTS

AFRICAN AMERICAN

THAT’S LIKE DRIVING FROM NEW YORK — LOS ANGELES AND BACK OVER 9 TIMES.

AND 5,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE OVER

228 S. Massachusetts Ave. Lakeland, FL 33801 863.834.6000 www.lakelandgov.net

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

ANNUAL BUDGET

MILES EVERY DAY

WILL RETURN TO POLK COUNTY SCHOOLS

66 ELEMENTARY 4 ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE 7 ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE / HIGH 18 MIDDLE 3 MIDDLE / HIGH 18 HIGH 2 TECHNICAL CAREER CENTERS 2 ADULT 11 ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION 24 CHARTERS 5 DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE 3 OFF-CAMPUS HEAD START

Get Into Energy with LE Power Academy

445,000

HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE THIS YEAR.

D E ROA ON THGAIN...

A

EVERY DOLLAR IS SPENT LIKE THIS...

17¢ 4¢

TEACHING, TRANSPORTING & COUNSELING STUDENTS

OPERATING & MAINTAINING SCHOOLS CENTRAL & FISCAL SERVICES

13,000 8 TH LARGEST EMPLOYEES

MAKING IT THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN POLK COUNTY. OVER 1/2 ARE TEACHERS.

SCHOOL SYSTEM IN FLORIDA

Monthly Comparison of Residential Electric Rates

Source: Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Monthly Utility Bill Comparison • May 2014

www.lakelandelectric.com

*per 1,200 kWh usage

Lakeland Electric partnered with the Polk County School Board to create the Power Academy program being offered at Tenoroc High School. It is one of the academy programs that follows a strict Polk County School Board curriculum but Lakeland Electric sponsors this particular academy so students can learn valuable skills that will help them get a job in the power industry.

The Power Academy program began in the fall of 2008 and is open to all high school students in the county. “The goal of the academy is to help students prepare for technical positions while still in high school,” said Joel Ivy, General Manager for Lakeland Electric. “Students in the academy gain a solid understanding of both industrial and residential electricity,” Ivy said. “The academy is equipped with leading-edge technology.”

When Lakeland Electric approached school district officials about the program, it wanted to help train students for high-skilled jobs and this program helps them develop the necessary technical and people skills required for employment at Lakeland Electric or for any company in the world. In addition, this Academy provides students with an excellent foundation to compete for a variety of careers in other trades and industries, such as construction and manufacturing.

The Power Academy is conducted in its own facility on the Tenoroc campus. Students have an outdoor power pole lab in which they practice climbing techniques. An outdoor solar field is also on location. The curriculum includes resume writing, interview skills development, team projects, career exploration, job safety, electricity, electronics, robotics, pneumatics, hydraulics and blueprint reading.

Students who enroll in all four years of the program are allowed to complete a job-shadowing program at Lakeland Electric during their senior year. This program is very beneficial for students planning to go on to a four-year college or a trade school by providing technical knowledge and dual college credit enrollment while still in high school.

We know as a high school student you have to make some very difficult decisions on which classes to take to help you get into the career of your choice. We feel the Lakeland Electric Power Academy will give students the information and background needed to continue in almost any career that interests them.

93 6

students have graduated from the program, since its inception. graduates of the program have been hired, full time, with Lakeland Electric.

LAKELAND ELECTRIC OPEN HOUSE 10.4.14

10AM-2PM

FREE EVENT

LAKELAND ELECTRIC TRAINING FACILITY 2727 CENTURION DRIVE

SAVE THE DATE!

like \''līk\ vb: to be suitable or agreeable to. w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / c i t y o f l a k e l a n d

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS

Protectors and Mentors to Lakeland Youth The Lakeland Police Department’s School Resource Officers (SROs) work in collaboration with educators, students, parents, and the community to reduce crime, drug abuse, violence, and to provide a safe school environment. Lakeland’s School Resource Unit is made up of eight School Resource Officers and one Sergeant. Members of the team act as liaisons between the police department and the school district. The officers are in the schools providing law enforcement services, along with being a friend, mentor and role model to the students.

How do School Resource Officers provide a safe school environment?

• They patrol school grounds, respond to calls for service in the area, and participate in juvenile enforcement missions to prevent juvenile delinquency.

• They initiate interaction with students in the classroom and general areas of the school while being a positive role model; providing individual counseling and mentoring to students.

• Officers give school presentations on what an SRO does, the criminal justice system, and other related topics that help to build an understanding of law enforcement’s role in the community.

• SROs increase visibility within the school community.

Attend and participate in school functions. Build working relationships with the school’s staff as well as with student and parent groups.

Lakeland’s SROs have become an integral part in the proactive steps being taken to reduce gang activity in the City of Lakeland. Not only are the officers looking out for the typical signs of gang activity in our schools and public places, but they are training fellow school administrators on what to look for as well.They know that early intervention is the key to stopping many impressionable children from venturing down the wrong path. The unit hopes to soon reintroduce the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program back into our local schools. The Program is intended as an intervention tool against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. The program is targeted toward children immediately before the prime ages for introduction into gangs and delinquent behavior.

During the past summer months, SROs were out patrolling parks and other areas where children and teens were known to hang out to ensure families that they could play safely and free from gang activity.

SRO’s are here to help increase positive attitudes towards law enforcement by proactively working with students and staff to address issues before they become a larger problem. The officers want to assist in maintaining a safe, secure environment for the students to have opportunities for learning so they can achieve their goals in life. The SROs maintain offices at the various school campuses throughout the city and encourage students and/or parents to contact them should they have any issues at school.

LIKE US ON MEET YOUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS Sergeant Richard Rose Supervisor of School Resource Officers richard.rose@Lakelandgov.net 863.834.8962

Officer Walter Dennis Blake Academy walter.dennis@Lakelandgov.net

Officer Fred Lewis Gang Liason Officer fred.lewis@Lakelandgov.net

Officer Doris Diaz Sleepy Hill Middle School doris.diaz@Lakelandgov.net

Officer Lori Edwards Rochelle School of the Arts, Lawton Chiles Middle & Lincoln Academy lori.edwards@Lakelandgov.net

Officer Dave Torres Southwest Middle School dave.torres@lakelandgov.net

Officer Oscar Wesley Lakeland Senior High School oscar.wesley@lakelandgov.net

Officer Adam Williams Truancy Officer adam.williams@lakelandgov.net

Katina Lewis Elementary Schools katina.lewis@lakelandgov.net

STAY CONNECTED ONLINE www.lakelandgov.net

UPCOMING EVENTS HONORING HEROES BBQ 9.6.14 • 6-9PM • Lake Mirror Center

Neighborhood Cleanup

Thank you to the more than 400 volunteers from over 30 churches and organizations who came together for the 7th Street Park Neighborhood Outreach event this past June. Volunteers went door-to-door with food care packages while lawn care professionals assisted with lot clearings and residential yard care. Members from the Lakeland Fire and Police Departments were on hand to serve up hot dogs and join in on the kids activities. The event is a part of the Refuse to Lose anti-gang initiative.

For more information visit www.lakelandgov.net.

CARDBOARD BOAT CHALLENGE & LAKES FESTIVAL 9.13.14 • 8:30AM - NOON Lake Hollingsworth Boat Ramp MUSIC ON THE PROMENADE 9.19.14 • 6-9PM Frances Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror Live Music By Jill's Cash Box

HOLIDAY

City Hall will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2014 in observance of Labor Day.

Solid waste pickups for the week will be delayed one day.

HEARTH PROJECT:

Warmth for homeless children The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high quality education for all students. As of May 2014, more than 3,700 students have been identified as homeless, which is an increase of over 1,100 students from the 2012 – 2013 school year.

For more than a decade, the school district has been working to ensure that children experiencing homelessness have the same opportunities for educational success as housed students in Polk County. This focus is attributed to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001. The federal law, reauthorized by Title X, Pact C, of the No Child Left Behind Act, provides educational support and protections for children and youth who are experiencing homelessness.

McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”

The HEARTH Project and the Polk County School Board are dedicated to assisting homeless and in-transition families and children by eliminating barriers to school enrollment, attendance, stability, and overall academic success.

If you’d like to donate resources or supplies to the HEARTH Project, contact homeless liaison Dee Dee Wright at 863.534.0755. Donations are also accepted at the office at 1915 South Floral Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830.

THE HEARTH PROJECT IS IN NEED OF THESE ITEMS: School Supplies | Food and Gas Gift Cards | Hygiene Packs (toothbrush, deoderant, shampoo, soap, brush, etc.)

Please donate NEW ITEMS only.

L O G O N. T U N E I N. G E T C O N N E C T E D.

www.lakelandgov.net

Insta

IN PERSON City Hall is open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Monday-Friday PUBLIC MEETINGS City Commission Meetings First and Third Monday 9:00 a.m.

Utility Committee Meetings First Monday 1:00 p.m.

Watch the live broadcast on:

Channel 615 (Brighthouse) or Channel 43 (Verizon FiOS) IMPORTANT NUMBERS 863.834.6000 Lakeland Electric Customer Service 863.834.9535 Power or Water Outages 863.834.4248 Pollution Hotline 863.834.3300 LPD Crime Tips Hotline 863.834.2549 PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILL ONLINE www.lakelandelectric.com

BY PHONE 863.834.9535 IN PERSON Lakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.