Two minor flaws in the report … they tag the turnaround here “Lakeland” (our fair sister city to the west). Oh, and LEGOLAND Florida is in Winter Haven with 1100 + jobs and a waterpark on the way!

It’s no secret that LEGOLAND is great for all of Polk and that is outstanding because the MSA for Lakeland/Winter Haven is actually the combined sum of all that happens in ALL of Polk!

So thank you to Realtor.com. That’s great news all around.

You can read the entire CNN Money report here.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Report of the Educational Outcomes Steering Committee
Reviewing Winter Haven Public Schools

Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce

The future of Winter Haven depends on the educational outcomes of its schools. Out of concern for the quality of Winter Haven’s public schools The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce (“The Chamber”) formed the Educational Outcomes Steering Committee (the “Committee”), to survey the public schools and recommend strategies to improve the schools through community involvement.

In furtherance of this mission, the Committee interviewed teachers, administrators, parents, students and others within the community as detailed in the report. The Committee reviewed statistical data of the student population, FCAT performance, school grades, and other data relating to the performance of the schools. Moreover, the Committee consulted with representatives of the School Board, City of Winter Haven, and others within the community who have a heart for education. Based on the Committee’s research, it is the conclusion of the Committee that the community, its institutions, businesses, and citizens, have the talent and the resources to partner with the schools to substantively elevate the quality of our public schools.

The Committee proposes that the community, and those involved the implemention of the strategies, consider the following recommendations:

• Create a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support Winter Haven’s public schools. – a partnership that reflects all sectors within the community and whose membership has a heart for quality education. Within the structure of this organization as described in Section VI of this report, the City, the District, PSC, the Chamber, and other entities and local organizations would be expected to participate for purposes of supporting, advocating, and expanding support for this educational mission to all sectors within the community.

• Partner with the local schools and the District to specifically address the problem of absenteeism in the schools. Truancy is a complex issue because it is caused by many factors outside the schools. Consequently, the approach must involve more than developing a school environment that attracts students, but working with parents, churches, law enforcement and others to increase awareness of the problem and counsel students and their families on the importance of school attendance.

• Development of elementary school reading programs similar to Beymer Methodist Church’s program at Inwood, that would expand such a community based program to all of Winter Haven’s public elementary schools, and would include volunteers from the various minority communities to assist students who have reading problems because English is their second language.

• Expand successful after school and summer programs that currently exist within the schools, and develop other such programs as appropriate for the needs of the individual schools. Support the traditional after school and summer programs in the community, so programs like those offered by the Boys and Girls Clubs, COLA, Florence Villa Community Development Corporation, Girls, Inc., scouting, and the youth athletic programs, can expand and accommodate larger numbers of children.

• Transform WHHS into A Center for Technology and Applied Science, where technology related career academies are developed by the District with the support of the City, which plans to connect Winter Haven’s schools to its fiber optic system, and through partnerships involving technology firms, PSC and USF Polytechnic. Develop an IB program at WHHS to be introduced as soon as possible for students who qualify and live in the greater Winter Haven area.

• Transform LRHS into a Business Enterprise Center, where more business related career academies, like the successful IMAG Academy, are developed by the District in partnership with the business community, Chamber, and Webber International University, as a potential partner whose curriculum is focused on business education.

• Introduce STEAM, a curriculum that introduces an arts component into the high schools, at both LRHS and WHHS, and foster partnerships between the schools and the thriving arts community in Winter Haven.

• Diligently implement pre-career academy programs at Denison and Westwood that would naturally transition to the career academies at WHHS and LRHS.

• Recognizing that physical health is a key component to academic achievement, focus on the development of sports and physical education programs at the middle schools. This initiative includes the construction of gymnasiums or covered areas to accommodate athletic and sports programs.

• Develop a community-wide mentoring program that is organized, dependable, and consists of mentors who have varying talents or skills so that mentors can be paired to students who have differing needs and interests. Partner with the faith-based community and organizations like Big Brother and Big Sisters to reach every student who needs a mentor.

• Develop a leadership program through the Chamber, that is supported financially through the business community, for select seniors at WHHS and LRHS who demonstrate business leadership potential. This program would be an abbreviated version of the Chamber’s Leadership Winter Haven program, but focused on the interests of young adults.

• Through the involvement of educators, administrators, school psychologists, counselors, parents, students and the community, develop an approach to discipline that will enhance civility within the schools and foster respect for all. Introduce character building programs led by students into the middle and high schools, but immediately initiate such programs starting the 2011-2012 school year in the 9th grade academies at LRHS and WHHS. Discipline protocols should be combined with character development and enhanced academic and behavioral expectations for each and every student who attends Winter Haven’s public schools.

• That the City and PSC develop a program for high school students with an interest in government and public administration as practical experience and as a feeder to PSC’s bachelor’s degree program in public administration.

• That PSC partner with the District and Winter Haven Hospital to develop a pre-nursing career academy in one of Winter Haven’s high schools.

Ultimately, the proposals outlined in this report must have the support of the community and those who implement them. These proposals have been discussed with members of the community, and are at varying stages of development – both in concept and implementation. All of these proposals remain to be further aired and refined in the public domain. The Committee notes, however, that there is substantial support for strategies described in this report.

It is anticipated that these initiatives will evolve as they are implemented over time. In the event the community decides to adopt these recommendations and embark on the journey ahead, the Committee believes that time is of the essence. The forces at work that created the situation in our schools are still with us. The Committee believes that today is the day to make a difference in our schools and our community.

The report was presented to members of the School Board, City Commission, Chamber Board and general public. Committee Chairman Doug Lockwood will be scheduling organizational meetings to move the report recommendations forward in the coming weeks.

The overall efforts will involve contributions from all sectors of the community — especially individual contributions of time to help our schools and students. Mayor Jeff Potter noted the City of Winter Haven is moving to support city employees who volunteer to become student mentors.

A key challenge emerged in the discussions … “What can each of us do individually to help make a positive difference?”

This blog will report future developments in this educational initiative as they occur.

It is comprehensive and addresses a difficult subject. Several comments are included from familiar Polk and Winter Haven voices.

You can read the entire article here.

You can download the actual study results here.

After lengthy discussion the Board approved the following resolution directed to the City of Winter Haven.

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE
GREATER WINTER HAVEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“THE LANDINGS”

The Board of Directors of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce strongly urges the City of Winter Haven to take the necessary steps to relocate the community facilities currently located on the Chain of Lakes Complex property at the intersection of US 17 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

The Board believes that the successful repurposing of this property featuring hotels, restaurants and retail is of critical importance to the long term economic well being of the business community including LEGOLAND Florida, and the citizens of Winter Haven.

As this community aspires to become a world-class tourism, technology and logistic center, the aging facilities located on this important parcel deserve to be recreated to serve a new and vibrant economy.

Toward this end the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce pledges our support in working to create community partnerships that can assure the successful realization of this important vision.

Unanimously approved this 25th day of February 2011.

Cynthia Price, President

Ed. Note: The Chamber’s resolution does not preclude reconstruction Chain of Lakes facilities on that site where feasible. The primary concern is replacing aging inadequate facilities while expediting the construction of hotels, restaurants and specialty retail to complement the LEGOLAND Florida theme park as well as Winter Haven’s amenities.

Input Assumptions:

Output Assumptions:

This model produces estimates of economic impact based on the methodology utilized by the RIMS model developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The model uses an aggregate of the multipliers for various industries in the Central Florida Region and does not attempt to assign purchases or identify expenditures to specific industry detail. The model is capable of generating economic impacts on a community related to the following types of projects:

- The construction of a commercial facility
- The operation of a business
- Tourism related expenditures

Output Computations:  Summary of Direct and Indirect Impacts

Conclusions:

The overall economic impact of the Landings on the local community is $48.7 million on an annual basis. This figure includes $31.0 million of direct impact at the business site as well as $17.7 million of output created in other industries as a result of operations.

In terms of payroll or earnings, the business provides $18.6 million to workers directly employed at the location and another $5.1 million in earnings are generated across other industries from additional spending in the local community.The facility provides 739 direct jobs at the businesses on site and supports another 220 jobs at other businesses in the community created through additional spending

The magnitude of the retail industry in all of Polk County is approximately $1.4 billion, with annual payroll of about $600 million and 24,000 people employed. Comparing these overall numbers to the estimates generated for the above referenced project indicates that the proposed facility will have a significant economic impact on the local economy.

The development is pending City Commission approval.

Perhaps more importantly was a potentially misleading article in this morning’s Ledger. The front page article declared “Winter Haven Officials Discuss Charter Alternative to Public Schools.” This writer participated in that meeting for the entire 90 minute duration and I will absolutely declare there was no discussion of a “charter alternative.”

The subject of the meeting was a presentation by John Small, Senior Director for Workforce Education in Polk County Schools. Among John’s many accomplishments are the Polk State College Collegiate High Schools (when he was employed by PCC now PSC) and more than 30 career academies at various Polk County Public Schools. He talked for 85 of the 90 minutes and it is easy to be motivated by his passion and the great success those programs have enjoyed.

Did I mention there was NO discussion of a charter alternative?

Improving Winter Haven’s educational outcomes is a very complex challenge and making the best decisions on behalf of our students (our future) cannot be decided casually. There are many options (including career academies) that can offer dramatic outcomes throughout our public school system. But each and every alternative needs to be explored, discussed and evaluated before any reasonable decision can be made on a course of action.

Every taxpayer in Polk County has a stake in the educational outcomes of our public schools. We pay the bills. It is for that reason that the Chamber has sought and repeatedly been counseled to reach out to our business, education and community leaders as well as our public school officials. The first question we believe we should ask of our community is, “What we can do to help our schools improve — all schools K-12.”

We believe it is in everyone’s interest to complete extensive due diligence, gather good solid information and then make an informed decision that is in the community’s best interest. That process will involve meetings with business leaders, educators, our community and our School Board leaders.

We cannot afford a knee jerk reaction or a band aid approach.

Following is the text of the news release authorized by Chamber President Cindy Price:

Chamber to Name Educational Outcomes Steering Committee

The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce is vitally interested in improving educational outcomes for our public school students. The Chamber has been carefully gathering input in an effort to make an informed decision regarding the best course of action. Toward that end, Chamber President Cindy Price will recommend the formation of an Educational Outcomes Steering Committee at the Chamber’s January 24 Board of Directors Meeting. The purpose of the committee will be to work with Winter Haven business, education and community leaders as well as Polk Public School officials toward a unified approach to improve the performance of our public schools.

For what ever reason, this morning’s headline was very wrong. At the very best it did not pertain to the meeting I attended. Put yourself in the position of our teachers and school administrators. They haven’t yet been a part of the dialogue. We can and will do better.

We will continue to update you on the progress of this effort as structure and organization are finalized and facts are gathered.

Editor’s Note: The Ledger published the following “Clarification:”

Published: Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 12:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 5:12 a.m.

A story about interest in establishing charter schools in Winter Haven published on page A1 on Wednesday may have left readers with the impression that comments made by a group of civic leaders occurred at a meeting held at City Hall on Tuesday. The comments were made during individual interviews outside of the meeting. The meeting included a presentation by John Small of the Polk County School District, who detailed educational opportunities for students at academies throughout the county.

Leedy’s body of local design includes the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce building.

While they last … the Chamber has “No on Amendment 4″ yard signs and stands in our lobby. Stop by and pick yours up. Limit 1 sign and stand per opponent. We encourage you to display the sign in your neighborhood.

The Board of Directors of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has taken a position in opposition to this amendment. The proposal would require a voter referendum on all changes to your local comprehensive plan — a tedious burdensome step that would tangle election ballots and pose a serious threat to economic prosperity. In an April survey of Chamber members, 84% of those who responded to our survey were opposed to the measure.

(Note: You can send an email to Lakeland City Commissioners (simultaneously) at the end of this post. Here is a brief recap of recent events.)

On February 2, the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce became an early advocate of placing Polk County’s high speed rail stop at the eastern terminus of the Polk Parkway. The position published was as follows:

“The Board of Directors of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce supports the placement of a Polk County station for high-speed rail at the eastern terminus of the Polk Parkway. This site will ensure convenient access for students at USF Polytechnic as well as serve all of Polk County from a more central location. More than 50% of Polk’s population resides east of the Polk Parkway. This location would also better serve as a future connector for intermodal transfer to Legoland Florida opening in 2011.” You can read the entire post here.

In the weeks that followed nearly every municipality and economic development organization in the County endorsed the USF Polytechnic site. In addition, the Williams Company offered to donate a site for the station.

On February 23 Polk’s Transportation Planning Organization’s board, which includes members of the County Commission and the Lakeland City Commission, voted unanimously to endorse locating the Polk station on a site near the planned USF Polytechnic campus.

That meeting saw representatives of nearly every municipality in Polk County attend the decision making meeting. One key factor leading up to the decision was the consensus of Polk municipalities endorsing the USF Polytechnic site. We were speaking with one voice.

It may be time to speak again …

Ledger Headline October 15 …

County Divided on Location of Proposed High-Speed Rail Stop

The basic premise of the article indicates that only Lakeland is reconsidering their position so “County Divided” may be overstated. The article quotes Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields as saying “the February TPO vote was premature.” “Politics drove our vote in February,” Fields said. “It was nasty, ugly politics.”

Really?

If you have not read this article, we urge you to do so.

The Lakeland City Commission may reconsider its position with regard to the rail stop. We encourage all those who support the USF Polytechnic location as the best site for the high speed rail stop in Polk County to send a positive email of encouragement to Lakeland City Commissioners here.