Louise Bossardet

The meeting included recognition for student achievements, such as an accomplishment at the county level and the presentation of various annual awards including Rookie Teachers of the Year, Teachers of the Year, Employees of the Year, and Administrator of the Year. Key discussion items involved public comments regarding the Career Source Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), where concerns were raised about lacking clear, measurable benchmarks for facility use and outcomes. Another topic was the developer mitigation agreement, focusing on the long-term financial impact of locking in unit capacity at current prices against future construction inflation, leading to a potential loss of purchasing power for the district. The board also addressed consent items across finance, operational services, and human resource services, including awarding a contract for telecommunication service internet access. Student representatives provided updates on various accomplishments, including success in academic competitions (Parliamentary Procedure), inductions to state executive boards, and achievements in sports such as wrestling, track and field, weightlifting, and basketball.

The workshop included updates on various school activities and legislative matters. School updates covered events like the Beltier Elementary You and Me Dance, the upcoming Bobcat 5K seeking sponsors, and PTO/SAC leadership recruitment. Matanzas High School hosted a debate competition, and the Blue Steel band and JROTC cadets were recognized for their participation at Daytona Speedway. The EPAC discussed the Best Buddies Club Valentine's dance and the ESE department's coffee cart. Legislative updates included discussion on House Bill 615 strengthening the IEP process, House Bill 5001/Senate Bill 2500 concerning district operating dollars, House Bill 5003 changes to the safe schools formula, Senate Bill 7036 (the education packet), and Senate Bill 1216 regarding personnel compensation and cost of living adjustments. Further updates detailed Old Kings Elementary's field day, the Flagler Ed Foundation's health and career fair, student governance association applications at Matanzas High School, and success in FFA week and problem solvers competitions.

This document provides a comprehensive overview of capacity, enrollment, and level of service data for Flagler County Public Schools. It presents current school capacities, student enrollment figures, and utilization rates across elementary, middle, and high schools, identifying areas of under and over capacity. The report also includes projected enrollment forecasts (COFTE) up to 2034-2035 and residential generation rates, serving as foundational data for future strategic planning related to facility management and student accommodation.

The meeting featured extensive board member liaison updates covering various schools and initiatives. For Belair Elementary, updates highlighted family engagement, student-centered activities, the annual family survey, and ESOL testing results, along with upcoming PTO/SAC joint meetings and a dance. Matanzas reported on school pride, academic/arts/athletics achievements, the Future Pirate Showcase, and band recognition. Exceptional Student Education (ESE) updates focused on support programs like Best Buddies and related events such as a Valentine's Dance, alongside news about a virtual teen town hall concerning youth vaping. A significant portion of the discussion involved updates on federal relations, focusing on proposed cuts to the US Department of Education budget for Fiscal Year 2026, structural shifts in K12 funding programs, and concerns regarding Office for Civil Rights budget cuts and potential impacts on IDEA grants. Additionally, the status of education funding tied to Medicaid was discussed, noting reimbursement issues in Florida. Other liaison updates covered Tobacco-Free Florida (noting missing liaisons for Indian Trails and Matanzas), Rimfire's literacy night and fundraising efforts, Flagler Palm Coast's career programs and increased graduation rates, and Buddy Taylor Middle School's career fair and classroom makeovers. Finally, updates touched upon participation in the Martin Luther King parade, recognition of All-State Band students, and upcoming band concerts. Subsequent discussions involved scheduling Indian Trails' heart screening day and college/career fair, updates from Old Kings regarding their 'halftime huddle,' fundraising efforts, and allocations for PTO/SAC funds. The Traffic Safety Board update mentioned recent ebike legislation discussions following a student accident. Board operations included adopting the agenda, with the Superintendent noting an early departure for Leadership Florida training.

The meeting began with a roll call, followed by agreement on significant modifications to the agenda order to prioritize item 12.02 and dedicate the majority of the time to a discussion regarding insurance updates. Key discussions involved a resolution for a local mitigation strategy plan, which is necessary every five years to maintain eligibility for federal grant funding such as the hazardous mitigation grant from FEMA. Furthermore, the board reviewed purchase orders, including significant expenditure for Stepping Stones to provide school psychologists, leading to a detailed conversation about recruitment challenges and the cost-benefit analysis of contracted versus full-time personnel, as well as the inclusion of school psychologists in the bargaining unit. The finance segment also addressed NEASC risk management insurance, noting that the district is self-insured for health insurance. Another major topic was the drawdown of the DOE CAP grant funds for workforce capitalization, focusing on expenditures for agriculture and carpentry programs, and the lessons learned regarding grant expenditure restrictions and procedural timing that led to unspent funds being returned.