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In-person learning increasing at Polk schools, with more on the way BARTOW Polk County has seen the number of pediatric COVID patients rise by 356 in five days, from a total of 4,427 children younger than 18 contracting the virus by Jan. 5 to 4,783 reported on Jan. 10 the first week back from winter break. The increase comes as more students opt to return to on-campus learning. Records provided by Polk County Public Schools show there was an increase last week in the number of students whose parents opted to send them to on-campus school to 72,958 students, up from 70,561 on Dec. 10 and 56,903 on Sept. 17. A total of 30,749 students are currently attending school online, either through their home school or Polk Virtual School, a district online school. That’s down substantially from the 46,133 students who started the school year online. ....
LAKE WALES A 68-year-old school bus attendant and a 15-year-old Frostproof Middle/Senior High student face felony charges after Polk County sheriff’s deputies say they got into a fight on a school bus Wednesday afternoon. Deputies say special needs substitute bus attendant Algarene Richards was possibly videotaping Jayvyn McFadden because he had his feet on a bus seat. Richards later told deputies that McFadden told her he was going to take her phone, to which she responded, “Go ahead” or “Take it.” Deputies, who viewed a video of the incident, said McFadden can be seen taking Richards’ phone. They say Richards is then seen on the video punching McFadden in the face with a closed fist. McFadden then grabbed Richards, who fell to the ground with McFadden still holding her arms. ....