Coronavirus Call Center Scheduled To Open At Polk Public Schools

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A coronavirus call center created through a partnership with Polk County Public Schools and the Florida Department of Health's Polk County office is opening on Monday.

“The school district and the Florida Department of Health in Polk County have been great partners since the very beginning of the pandemic," Deputy Superintendent John Hill said. "Working together, we recognized that we could do more to communicate with our parents during this very uncertain time. We’re excited to make this service available to our community,”

The call center will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, except for school holidays. The phone number is 863-298-5206.

Kelly Educational Services will staff the call center.

Call center employees completed a training course developed by the school district and health department, Polk County Public Schools said.

They will be supervised by school district nurses, PCPS said.

Call center employees will answer general questions about the coronavirus, and assist the health department with contract tracing phone calls as needed, officials said.

The communications protocols include a school wide notification to families and staff members. Individuals who have come into close contact with the positive case are contacted separately to discuss their next steps.

“After the school wide notification is sent, schools receive numerous questions about testing and quarantining,” said Sherry Scott, PCPS’ director of student services, who helped to establish the call center.

“The call center will provide relief and support for our schools and parents," PCPS director of student services Shery Scott said. "It will also provide the health department with another resource to assist with contract tracing. For parents, they now have a single phone number they can call for answers to their COVID-related questions. This is really a win-win for everyone involved.”

For more information on the school district’s coronavirus response, visit https://polkschoolsfl.com/campus-learning-safety-protocols/.