Lakeland-area school safety and housing-support gaps draw scrutiny

Parents are pressing Polk County for safety improvements near Griffin Elementary, where children reportedly cross a 45-mph Kathleen Road section without apparent crossing-guard protection; county reevaluation is expected next week. Separately, the Homeless Coalition of Polk County faces a September 30 funding deadline while reporting roughly 3,500 families on a housing waitlist, making county priorities and replacement funding central accountability questions.