Polk County Public Schools considers high school grades at McLaughlin Middle in Lake Wales

LAKELAND — Superintendent Frederick Heid proposed during this week’s School Board meeting adding high school grades to McLaughlin Middle School and Fine Arts Academy in Lake Wales, along with creating a power academy in partnership with Duke Energy to train students to enter the energy business workforce when they graduate.

Heid added that he would welcome Lake Wales High School charter students to attend part-time.

“Given the fact that that community is growing — both Winter Haven and the Lake Wales area are slated for additional large numbers of additional residential units — it would behoove us to have a conversation about McLaughlin Middle School and its potential of expanding its grade level,” Heid told the School Board members during an afternoon workshop on April 26. “There is physical space because of the school’s current enrollment.”

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McLaughlin currently has room for an additional 735 students and is currently at less than 50% of its capacity.

Heid praised principal Deborah Wright Hudson, the teachers, and students for working to bring the school up from a D to a C in recent years.

His willingness to partner with LWHS was a sea change from his predecessors. The Lake Wales community moved 20 years ago to establish a charter school system and teachers at five of the area’s eight schools voted to move to the charter system. The Lake Wales Charter School System provides its own oversight, runs its own schools and spends money as it sees fit within the law. The system has also added two middle schools — Bok Academy North and South.

Three schools, including McLaughlin Middle School, voted to remain as a regular Polk County Public School. McLaughlin has since added a fine arts academy in the hopes of attracting more students.

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There has been animosity toward the charter school district ever since the split in 2004.

The move to add a high school was first discussed in 2019 under then-superintendent Jacquelyn Byrd, but stalled when COVID-19 hit in early 2020.

A building that is not being fully utilized on campus now could become a call center, which would employ students who would be supervised by Duke Energy employees. Duke Energy has already committed $50,000 to the project. In addition, students would be trained to work for the power company. A similar program is in place at Tenoroc High School in Northeast Lakeland.

Heid said creating the high school grades at McLaughlin would have another added benefit.

“I'm a huge proponent for continuity of program. Anytime we can remove a transition between school levels for students, the students benefit, the school benefits, the staff benefits because those students become a known commodity,” Heid said. “The relationships have been established, not only with students but with their peer group and also with the families. And so, again, the longer a student can remain in an academic setting, the better off they are and the better off we are in our abilities to best serve them.”

School Board members were thrilled to revisit the idea and to hear that Heid wants to work with LWCSS.

"I don't know that you've been here long enough to understand (that) what you just said will move mountains in this district," School Board member Lisa Miller said. "We've been trying to do this — I've been trying to do it — as a community member. We've been trying to do this as a board for a very long time and I think this is the right opportunity, with Lake Wales undergoing some changes that we can work in collaboration with each other."

The LWCSS recently hired a new superintendent, Wayne Rodolfich from Mississippi.

“2019 seems like 100 years ago,” said School Board member Lori Cunningham, whose district includes McLaughlin. “Let me be so honest — so much has changed at McLaughlin through the past three years and my comment is we need to go for it. I think it's awesome. I think Ms. Hudson is doing everything in her power to take that school in the new direction. It's obvious with the changes that have been made on site. The community, as you've said, is very excited about what's being done at McLaughlin and sometimes it's just the right time to do things”

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School Board member Sarah Fortney was so enthusiastic that she suggested the School Board vote on expanding to a high school that night so Wright Hudson could have enough time to hire people.

“I would like to suggest I — could we move it to the evening agenda and make a vote?” Fortney asked. “We have had this plan and for a while and, you know, I know she needs time. I mean, she is a miracle worker, but time would be valuable for her right about now at the end of school (year), so she can plan and get her team together.”

School Board members Lynn Wilson, Kay Fields and Miller said they are in favor of the move, but wanted to hear from the public first before a vote.

"I am 100% in support of it. I don't think we need to do it tonight,” Fields said. “I think that we need to allow citizens to come to the next meeting to have their comments before we vote on it. But I definitely think that we need to go forth with it.”

Miller reminded her fellow board members and Heid that the building he is proposing to be turned into a call center was built with federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds as a program for special education students transitioning from school into the workforce. It currently also incorporates a pre-kindergarten, but she wondered if it needed to continue to be used for special needs students.

“I'd hate to lose that component 'cause we have such minimal to no transition in the east area of the county that's meaningful and engaging. And I think Duke Energy may bring that aspect, but I just wanted to make you aware,” Miller said.

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Heid said they would also need to build a gymnasium and an auditorium at McLaughlin, which could run several million dollars.

“I would very much like to bring this topic back in May. It's very clear that the board has had legitimate, sincere interest in moving the topic forward, but I do feel ill equipped to summarize costs and next steps,” Heid said. “Any recommendation that would come from me (about) McLaughlin would be adding similar to what we're doing at Bella Citta. We would add a grade level each year.”

Wright Hudson has said that she believes she could retain 70%-80% of her eighth graders if a ninth grade is added.

Lake Wales Charter School System Board of Trustees Chairman Danny Gill said he is glad for the cooperation with PCPS.

"My previous conversations with Superintendent Heid have been great and anything helping all of the children in the Lake Wales community is welcome," Gill said.

Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: PCPS considers adding high school grades at McLaughlin Middle