The Polk County School Board is holding an E-Town Hall for parents, community members and staff to get questions answered pertaining to school district budget and class size amendment concerns.

The school board is soliciting questions to be answered during the E-Town Hall. The event will be held 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 31. The E-Town Hall will be broadcast live on Polk County School Board Television (Bright House channel 614, Comcast channel 7 and Verizon FiOs channel 45) and PGTV, the county commission channel (Bright House channel 622, Comcast channel 5 and Verizon FiOs channel 20). The E-Town Hall will also be streamed live via the Internet at www.polk-fl.net and www.polk-county.net.

Parents, community members and staff can submit questions beginning at 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 31 by instant message below or via email at polkschoolse-townhall@polk-fl.net.

Click here to email Leah Lauderdale, APR, CPRC, or call (863) 534-0699 for further details and information regarding the E-Town Hall.

The schedule for the E-Town Hall, Tuesday, August 31:

5:30 to 5:45 p.m. – Opening remarks by School Board Chairman Kay Fields

5:45 to 6:15 p.m. – Budget and financial presentation by Mark Grey, assistant superintendent of business services

6:15 to 6:30 p.m. – Questions answered on budget and school district finances

6:30 to 7 p.m. – Class size amendment presentation by Dr. Bruce Tonjes, associate superintendent of operations

7 to 7:25 p.m. – Questions answered on class size amendment and other topics

7:25 to 7:30 p.m. – Closing remarks by Superintendent Gail McKinzie, Ph.D.

Presentations will be given on the specific topics and questions will be answered live on cable television and web stream at 5:30 pm. You can also visit your local library to participate if you do not have access at home. Click here for a list of libraries in Polk County.

PGTV is Polk County’s Government Television channel on

• Brighthouse Channel 622
• Verizon Channel 20
• Comcast Channel 5

PCSBtv on

• Brighthouse Channel 614
• Verizon Channel 45
• Comcast Channel 7

<a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=2068607015″ mce_href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=2068607015″ >Polk County Schools e-Town Hall</a>

The Florida Department of Transportation through its Florida Rail Enterprise announced today it will hold a series of public information meetings on the Tampa-Orlando high speed rail project August 31 – September 2 in Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando. The schedule is:

Tampa Convention Center: Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Lakeland Center: Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Orange County Convention Center: Thursday, September 2, 2010

The general public meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at each venue.  Rail Enterprise officials will present an overview of the Tampa-Orlando project.  Each presentation will be followed by question and answer sessions.  Public comment cards will be available.

The public meetings are free, open to the public and require no advance registration.  Detailed information and agendas for each of the sessions will be posted at www.floridahighspeedrail.org.

Each public session will be preceded at 2:30 p.m. by information meetings for minority-owned and small businesses.

The Small Business Development Center at the Central Florida Development Council presents a free Small Business Forum Aug. 30-31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jim Miles Professional Development Center, 5204 US Hwy 98 South, Lakeland. The two-day event will feature several different workshops for both current and prospective business owners. Topics include writing a business plan, using financial software and marketing in today’s economy. Each workshop is tailored to assist participants in different areas of the business process. Counselors will also be on hand to offer personal guidance.

“This comprehensive free seminar is open to anyone who runs a small business or wants to start a small business,” said Doretha Brooks, Small Business Development Center director.  “During these tough economic times we’re pleased to offer accessible, affordable and professional counseling, entrepreneurial training and resources to small startup and mature businesses throughout Polk County.”

To register or for more details visit www.polksbdc.org or call (863) 667-7913. The Small Business Development Center is a non-profit organization and serves to design and deliver a collection of programs directed towards strengthening the economic benefit of Central Florida. Services include free one-to-one counseling, on-going educational entrepreneurial training workshops, and support of the activities of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Florida Department of Transportation through its Florida Rail Enterprise announced today it will hold a series of public information meetings on the Tampa-Orlando high speed rail project August 31 – September 2 in Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando. The schedule is:

Tampa Convention Center: Tuesday, August 31, 2:30 p.m.

The Lakeland Center – Lake Hunter Room: Wednesday, September 1, 2:30 p.m.

Orange County Convention Center: Thursday, September 2, 2:30 p.m.

Registration for each event will open at 1:30 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Florida Rail Enterprise (FRE) plans to divide the High Speed Rail project procurement into two projects; an Early Works Safety project and a design, build, operate, maintain and finance project.  Minority and small firms with expertise in general civil work, drainage design and construction, highway and railroad design and construction, commercial design and construction, signalization system design and construction, security system design and implementation and various aspects of railroad and transit operations are encouraged to attend these meetings.  FRE further expects a range of professional services may be sought by vendor teams including legal, accounting, public relations, marketing, security, janitorial and other services related to or incidental to operation of a high speed rail system.

Detailed information agendas for each session will be posted at www.floridahighspeedrail.org.  You can also email Ed Turanchik at eturanchik@wilbursmith.com for program information.

These public information sessions are designed for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Minority/Women Business Enterprises and other minority-owned businesses and small businesses. Rail Enterprise officials will describe the Tampa-Orlando HSR project including the procurement process, subcontracting opportunities and how firms can be certified and participate as a DBE.

The public information meetings are free, open to the public and require no advance registration.  All participants will need to register at the door. There will be a question and answer session at the end of each presentation. Detailed information and agendas for each of the sessions will be posted at www.floridahighspeedrail.org.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Dana Newsome at 407-547-2993 or by e-mail at dnewsome@hntb.com prior to the meeting.

With more than 200 alumni and friends in attendance at Thursday’s Opening Reception, Class XXVIII Chair Nancy Cattarius (Class II, WONN/WPCV/WLKF/WWRZ Radio) introduced the members of Leadership Lakeland Class XXVIII.

Congratulations to the following members:

Jennifer Adams, Bank of Central Florida
Michael Barnes, Center for Retina and Macular Disease
Kindle Bowden, City of Lakeland
Richard Cardosi, Watson Clinic, LLP
Sharon Casey, Community Southern Bank
Jeff Chamberlain, Publix Super Markets
Denis Cole, Kerry Ingredients & Flavours
Chris Craig, The Salvation Army, Lakeland
Elliott Dorsch, Dorsch, Inc.
Kim Elmhorst, Junior League of Greater Lakeland
Kevin English, The NCT Group CPAs, LLP
Barbi Feldman, Ross Vecchio, P.A.
Karen Houtz, Community Bank of Florida
Tracy Kimbrough, Baylis & Company PA
Jeff Kincart, American Compliance Technologies, Inc.
Karen Kovach, Third Wing Business Strategies, LLC
Bruce Lyon, Swan Development Advisors, Inc.
Harold Maready, The Schools of McKeel Academy
Lori Martini, Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland
Leticia Miller, Polk Museum of Art
Michael Peeples, Southern Homes of Polk County
Jason Rodda, Rodda Construction, Inc.
Bart Ross, tmr Agency
Jason Shepard, Heacock Insurance Group
Jack Strollo, Broadway Real Estate
Mark Talbott, Republic Services
Dale Terrell, Polk County School Board
Julie Townsend, Downtown Lakeland Partnership, Inc
April Williams, Integrity Insurance Agency | Word Alive Ministries
Mark Wilson, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

Together, these class members will complete a rigorous schedule of monthly day-sessions from October through May. Each session features hands-on experiences that engage class members in all aspects of Lakeland and Polk County’s community.

Leadership Lakeland is an annual program designed to identify leadership and enhance existing leadership in our community. The program unites leaders from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to improve their ability to lead effectively, offering its members a broad range of experiences and insights about the community, its people, its needs and its services.