Polk County School District officials had a grim outlook Monday on salary increases for teachers and other district employees, as the economic downturn continues.

More than twice as many Polk third-graders scored well on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test's reading section this year as the county's 10th-graders did, and officials analyzing the discrepancy are guessing that the culprit is anything from poverty to boredom.

Published: Monday, November 2, 2009 at 11:29 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, November 2, 2009 at 11:29 p.m. BARTOW Polk County School Board members tentatively agreed Monday to lower goals for both 10th-grade reading and graduation rates from an increase each year of 3 percentage points to 1.5. The district has not achieved the 3 percentage-point goal ...

Published: Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:04 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:04 p.m. LAKELAND Polk County School Board members will discuss two goals at their annual retreat Monday that students have failed to reach in recent years: A 3 percent increase each year in graduation rates and in 10th-grade reading.

Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 6:28 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 10:13 p.m. LAKELAND Forget the pinata for your next birthday party.

Published: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 8:32 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 8:32 p.m. LAKELAND University of South Florida Polytechnic has a green light to open its doors to freshmen and sophomores, campus officials said.

Emma Seger, age 5, from Bartow, shows how many letters she knows, kindergarten readiness skills, to Ernestine Collins, Teacher, during the Kindergarten Roundup at Spessard L Holland Elementary School near Highland City.

Published: Monday, September 28, 2009 at 6:34 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, September 28, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. You're in South Lakeland.

Published: Monday, August 17, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, August 17, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. LAKELAND About 150 teachers and principals at three McKeel charter schools recently were treated to a long weekend of training at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office School Crossing Section announced it is seeking applicants for crossing guard positions in Winter Haven, Auburndale, north Lakeland and Highland City.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office School Crossing Section announced it is seeking applicants for crossing guard positions in Winter Haven, Auburndale, north Lakeland and Highland City.

It was a pretty horrid week for Ruth Jordan and her boyfriend, Jarvis Johnson. Interactive Graphic Help With Electricity - Agricultural and Labor Program 300 Lynchburg Road, Lake Alfred, FL 33850; 800-330-3491; www.alpi.org/; Handles Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Community Services Block Grant.

Published: Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 11:09 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 11:09 p.m. LAKELAND Authorities captured a fleeing murder suspect late Friday in the car of the man he is now charged with killing.

Published: Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 11:49 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 11:49 p.m. LAKELAND More than half of the programs supported by United Way of Central Florida in Polk and Hardee counties will see raises in their 2009-10 allocations, reflecting the umbrella organization's successful campaign that concluded earlier this year.

Published: Friday, July 3, 2009 at 4:57 a.m. Last Modified: Friday, July 3, 2009 at 4:57 a.m. When President Clinton tried to reform this nation's health care, he and his wife were vilified by the medical lobbies.