We, the undersigned, demand that the Polk County Florida School Board and Superintendent take immediate and decisive action to protect teachers, staff, and students from the growing crisis of student threats and violence in our schools.

The situation in Polk County Public Schools has reached a breaking point. According to a recent article in the Lakeland Ledger, assaults by students against school staff have increased by more than 69%. This article was reposted hundreds of times and had hundreds of comments citing instances of violence against both staff and students. To date, there has been no response from the school board or superintendent despite numerous requests for a response and possible solutions. This is not a minor issue, it is an escalating crisis that is putting our staff and students at serious risk.

Despite this alarming trend, Superintendent Frederick Heid and the Polk County School Board have failed to act. Teachers, parents, and other community members have emailed, posted on social media, and publicly pleaded for help. In response, leadership has ignored the calls for support and, in specific cases, publicly blamed teachers for student abuse and threats despite extensive, documented evidence.

Efforts have been made to delegitimize staff concerns rather than listen to educators who have experienced, witnessed and endured numerous student abuses against students and staff. This willful disregard for the voices of those on the front lines of education is unacceptable. 

This is not just a moral failure, it's a legal one. Under Florida Statute 1001.42, school boards are required to “provide for the proper accounting for all students, and for the health, safety, and welfare of students and staff.” Allowing known violent students to remain in classrooms, many returned within minutes without intervention or consequences, is a direct violation of that duty. 

The impact is real and measurable. Over 300 teacher vacancies remain unfilled. More than 400 classrooms are staffed with substitutes. Educators are leaving not because they no longer love teaching, but because they are afraid of their safety and well-being, the mental weight of trying to protect other students in their classroom, and bearing the brunt of the blame for bad behavior in their classrooms. 

We are demanding:

1.    A clear, transparent, and public plan to address student violence in Polk County schools.

2.    Immediate removal of students who exhibit violent tendencies, or physically assault teachers, students, or staff from all classrooms, away from students and staff, until a thorough behavior review is completed. We demand immediate suspension. We ask that parents become accountable and involved in the process of identifying problems and working to resolve them.  

3.    Increased training and support for school staff, and administration including behavior intervention teams and crisis support.

4.    Public acknowledgment from the Superintendent and School Board of the current crisis an a plan to address it immediately.  Teachers who had significant impacts on their careers and lives should be exonerated from blame.

5.    Regular public updates on disciplinary statistics and teacher retention efforts.

We will not stand by while those tasked with educating our children are subjected to fear, injury, and disrespect. We will not stand by while other students are subjected to fear, injury and disrespect. We demand action now.  The safety of our teachers, staff, and students depends on it.