Palm Coast Deputy City Manager Lauren Johnston is moving to the Flagler County School District as the new chief of operations in place of Dave Freeman. Superintendent LaShakia Moore announced the appointment this morning alongside new Human Resources Director Joshua Walker. Johnston accepted a significant pay cut to improve her work-life balance. City Manager Michael McGlothlin plans to name an interim replacement within a week.
Schools
AdventHealth’s Free Sports Physicals And Heart Screenings to Flagler School Students Set for May
AdventHealth provides free sports physicals and electrocardiogram screenings to middle and high school students across Volusia and Flagler counties this spring. These exams are mandatory for students participating in athletics, band, and JROTC. Flagler County events are held May 20 and 21 at Flagler Palm Coast High School. The screenings help identify potential heart conditions.
Another Pass-Fail Session of the Florida Legislature: Here’s What Happened To Ten Key Issues
Significant gridlock between the Florida House and Senate left the state budget, property tax reform, and education voucher fixes unfinished. Legislators plan to reconvene in April to resolve fiscal disputes. Key successes included utility data center regulations and expanding armed campus security. Most high-profile proposals regarding medical malpractice and artificial intelligence rights failed to advance.
Florida Eagerly Turns Back the Clock to 1956
Florida’s Legislature is actively rolling back diversity initiatives, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ protections. New educational mandates target perceived Marxist influences in universities and grade schools. State leaders are prohibiting local climate policies to protect industrial interests, all of it intentionally retreating toward the restrictive cultural and environmental standards of 1956.
Flagler School Board Tensions Flare Again as Members Reject Lauren Ramirez’s Call For Procedural Retreat
Flagler County School Board members rejected a request from Lauren Ramirez for a retreat to discuss board procedures and parliamentary conduct. The discussion highlighted ongoing friction between members and exacerbated by a vacant fifth seat Governor Ron DeSantis has failed to fill though he’s known it would require an appointment for a year. Members argued a retreat should wait until a full board is seated following the upcoming August primary or November election.
Florida House Kills Bill to Expand Vaccine Exemptions
The Florida Senate is advancing a controversial bill to expand vaccine exemptions and allow over-the-counter ivermectin sales, despite House Speaker Daniel Perez stating the measure will not be heard. The bill excludes a total repeal of school mandates, but creates a new conscience-based opt-out category. The debate intensifies as Florida faces 124 measles cases in 2026, primarily linked to a university outbreak.
Worsening School Voucher Tracking Issues Ahead, a Senator Warns as Reform Bill Fails
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced the House will not consider legislation lacking previous committee hearings, effectively killing Senate President Ben Albritton’s Rural Renaissance bill and Don Gaetz’s school voucher reform. While policy changes are stalled, a $144.8 million rural appropriation remains active in budget negotiations. Gaetz warned that failing to address voucher accounting shortfalls found in state audits will lead to further mismanagement.
Bill To Allow Easier School Vaccine Opt-Outs Heads to Senate Floor Despite Rising Measles Cases
A Florida Senate panel approved SB 1756, a bill allowing parents to opt out of school-required vaccinations based on “conscience.” The move comes despite Florida ranking third nationally with 107 confirmed measles cases this year. Lawmakers also rejected an amendment that would have permitted private schools to maintain their own mandates. With 10 days left in the session, the House has yet to hear the proposal.
New Endowment Secures Future Funding for Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Flagler County
Local resident Linda Mahran has established the Flagler County Early Literacy Endowment to provide free, age-appropriate books every month to children from birth to age five. Coordinated in partnership with local organizations, the fund will sustain the region’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. By raising community donations, the endowment aims to eliminate year-to-year fundraising dependence, foster early reading habits, and improve vital overall school readiness.
Controversial Bill Allowing Armed Civilians On Florida College Campuses Advances After House Approval
The Florida House of Representatives recently passed a bill expanding the school guardian program to state colleges and universities. The legislation allows college presidents to designate faculty and staff to carry concealed weapons on campus. While supporters cite safety concerns following previous campus violence, opponents question the adequacy of the proposed training and highlight funding disparities for law enforcement between colleges and state universities.
Flagler Schools Update Mandatory ECG Testing Policy for Student Athletes, This Time Without Controversy
Flagler County is updating its mandatory electrocardiogram testing policy for student athletes to align with new state legislation that mirrors the district’s pioneering rules. The school board on Tuesday voted to advance changes requiring students in athletics and marching bands to complete screenings every two years. The district’s ongoing partnership with AdventHealth provides free clinics, which recently saved a local basketball player from cardiac emergencies.
Flagler School Board Members Clash Over Allowing Student Representatives to Participate in Discussions
The Flagler County School Board is divided over a proposed policy defining the official roles of its student representatives. While two members advocate for allowing students to actively participate in board discussions without voting power, two others argue student input should be strictly limited to prevent political “weaponization” and procedural issues. The district administration is revising the draft to reach an acceptable compromise.
Proposal to Honor Jim Guines With Flagler School Building Name Paused Over Lease Doubts
The Flagler County School Board is delaying a proposal to rename its leased Engagement Center after the late Jim Guines, a former board member and lifelong educator. Board members expressed concerns about dedicating a potentially temporary facility to Guines, as the district’s lease expires in September. The board will wait for more clarity on the building’s future before proceeding with any permanent facility naming plans.
Matanzas High School Student Arrested For Snapchat Gun Threats
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a fourteen-year-old Matanzas High School student after he threatened to shoot two classmates. During an online argument over Snapchat, the teenager sent a video of himself displaying his father’s firearm and issued death threats. Authorities detained the boy following a lunchroom altercation, charging him with a felony for sending written or electronic threats to kill or do bodily injury.
Florida Senate Passes Bill Mandating Washington and Lincoln Portraits in Public Schools
The Senate voted 36-2 on Thursday in support of a proposal that directs county school districts to place portraits of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in every public school.
DSC Offering New Associate of Science Degree in Aviation Maintenance Management Beginning Fall 2026
Pending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and institutional accreditor approval, Daytona State College is launching a new Associate of Science in Aviation Maintenance Management degree in Fall 2026. The five-semester program combines industry standard technical training in aircraft maintenance with managerial skills essential for overseeing aviation maintenance operations.
House Plan Shifts USF’s Sarasota Campus Under Control of Right-Winged New College
This year’s budget negotiations will entail negotiating the future of University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus. The Florida House Higher Education Budget Subcommittee Monday approved transferring the campus to New College of Florida on a party line vote, in line with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget proposal. The Senate is not on the same page, leaving such a swap completely out of its initial budget documents.
The Extremism Behind Christian Reconstructionism
Christian Reconstructionism is a theological and political movement within conservative Protestantism that argues society should be governed by biblical principles, including the application of biblical law to both personal and public life. It was born from the ideas of theologian R. J. Rushdoony, who argued that Old Testament laws should still apply to modern society. He supported the death penalty not only for murder but also for offenses listed in the text such as adultery, blasphemy, homosexuality, witchcraft and idolatry.
Parental Rights or Parental Property? The Looming Threat to Florida’s Minors
Florida is tightening control over youth autonomy through legislation requiring parental consent for essential medical care and state-mandated censorship of university curricula. By replacing sociology with sanitized history and restricting academic freedom, officials aim to shield students from diverse ideas. These efforts to blinker the next generation often backfire, as students naturally resist censorship and seek out forbidden knowledge.
Former School Board Member Trevor Tucker Enters Race Against Christy Chong in Rematch
Former Flagler County School Board member Trevor Tucker has filed to run for his old District 4 seat, challenging incumbent Christy Chong. Citing a lack of board cohesion and a desire for rational governance, Tucker admits he underestimated the need to campaign in 2022. He plans a more robust effort this election cycle to address district dysfunction.
When Students Are Informants: The Threat to Academic Freedom
A 2023 study found that 75% of college students feel free to report their professors if they say something objectionable. Self-identified liberal students were more likely than conservative students to report their professors to the administration. Law professor Stanley Fish has argued, freedom of speech – meaning the right to express oneself without restraint – has no place in college classrooms. To him, college classrooms are about the pursuit of truth.
2026 UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge: ‘Addressing Loneliness in a Connected World’
The fifth annual UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge will be hosted by the City of Palm Coast on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center. This year’s theme, “Addressing Loneliness in a Connected World,” encourages students to examine how social isolation persists despite constant digital connection and to develop creative solutions that promote mental, emotional, and community well-being.
Florida Board of Governors Moves to Freeze H-1B Visas at Public Universities, Stifling Expertise
The Florida Board of Governors has preliminarily approved a one-year freeze on new H-1B visa hiring for public universities, effective through January 2027. Prompted by Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump, the move responds to a new $100,000 federal application fee and concerns over “cheap labor.” While university officials intend to study program costs, critics and faculty representatives argue the pause undermines meritocracy and threatens the state’s ability to recruit top-tier global expertise.
Michelle Moore and Calvin Grant Named Flagler Schools’ Teacher and Employee of the Year
Michelle Moore of Belle Terre Elementary School was named the 2025-2026 District Teacher of the Year. Calvin Grant of Flagler Palm Coast High School was named the 2025-2026 District Employee of the Year. Moore and Grant will represent Flagler Schools in the Florida Department of Education’s state-level competitions later this year.
Florida House Moves to Ban Certain School Library Books Regardless of Literary or Artistic Value
A Florida House committee has approved HB 1119, a bill establishing a specific legal definition for school library materials deemed “harmful to minors.” The legislation builds on a 2023 law by potentially allowing the removal of books even if they possess literary, artistic, or scientific value. While supporters argue the measure protects students from pornography, critics contend it facilitates censorship and unfairly targets LGBTQ narratives. The bill now heads to the House floor for a final vote.
Florida Wants to Make Cursive Mandatory Again
A Florida House committee unanimously approved HB 127, a bill requiring elementary students to demonstrate cursive proficiency by the end of fifth grade. Proponents argue cursive is vital for reading historical documents and preventing fraud, while critics question the necessity of additional testing. The bill must now pass the full House, while a companion bill awaits Senate committee scheduling.
Florida House Advances Plan to Phase Out Non-School Property Taxes Despite Anguish Over Local Services
Florida House committees advanced two major property-tax proposals on Thursday, including a constitutional amendment to phase out non-school homestead taxes over ten years. While Republicans argue the move prevents local governments from treating residents like an “ATM,” Democrats and local officials warn of decimated public services. Meanwhile, the Senate has yet to release a companion plan, leaving the final form of a potential November ballot initiative in a holding pattern as leaders negotiate.
Flagler Student Musicians Shine at All-State; All-County Concert Set for Jan. 31
Four Flagler County students represented the district at the Florida All-State Band performances in Tampa following a rigorous audition process. Matanzas Director Ryan Schulz was also recognized for coordinating the High School Honors Band. The community can see local talent next at the All-County Band Concert, Saturday, Jan. 31, at 11:30 a.m. in the Matanzas High School Pirate Theater.
Against 2 Colleagues’ Claims of Inexperience, Lauren Ramirez Achieves Elite FSBA Certified Status
Flagler County School Board member Lauren Ramirez has earned the Florida School Boards Association’s Certified Board Member distinction, a credential held by only 27 percent of members statewide. This achievement comes months after fellow board members Will Furry and Christy Chong blocked her vice-chairmanship, citing a lack of experience. Despite managing a business and four children, Ramirez completed 96 hours of specialized training. She is currently the only member of the Flagler board to hold this professional certification.
Controversial Education Bill Mandating Anti-Abortion Videos and Campus ICE Access Moves Forward
A Florida House subcommittee approved HB 1071, a huge education bill that mandates 6th-12th grade lessons on fetal development, including specific video-watching requirements. The legislation also prohibits spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and requires school administrators to grant law enforcement, including ICE, full campus access. While proponents argue the bill focuses on merit and biological facts, critics raise concerns regarding medical accuracy, potential ICE presence on campuses, and the erosion of inclusive programming.
Stetson Concert Choir Joins Orlando Philharmonic at Phillips Center This Weekend
The Stetson University Concert Choir will collaborate with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra for two performances at Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 25, at 2:30 p.m.
Florida Education Commissioner Seeks Expanded Power Over ‘Political’ School Board Members
Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas wants the Legislature to grant the state more authority over locally elected school board members following racist social media remarks by Clay County’s Robert Alvero regarding the African American community. Critics and legal counsel say such oversight constitutes First Amendment retaliation. The debate highlights a growing tension between state-appointed boards and locally elected officials.
Sarasota School Board Member Protests Against ICE. County’s GOP Wants Him Booted Off the Board.
The Sarasota County Republican Party has formally requested that Governor Ron DeSantis remove School Board member Tom Edwards from office. The call follows Edwards’ participation in an anti-ICE rally where he blasted the killing of Renee Nicole Good. In response, Board Chair Bridget Ziegler proposed a resolution mandating full cooperation between the school district and federal immigration authorities. Edwards maintains the effort is a politically motivated “culture war” designed to distract from student safety.
Stetson Celebrates Martin Luther King with Week of Action
Stetson University will commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual MLK Week of Action, a series of on- and off-campus events designed to connect students with the broader DeLand community through service, dialogue and civic engagement. The week’s programming includes opportunities for reflection, facilitated conversation and hands-on service projects that invite participants to practice Dr. King’s vision of peace, justice and the Beloved Community.
Jill Woolbright, Controversial Former School Board Member and Culture Warrior, Files to Run Again
Former Flagler County School Board member Jill Woolbright, who claimed she was in “satanic warfare” against the district, has filed to run for the District 1 seat she’d held for two years. She faces newcomer Cathy Lynn Moon, a retired postal executive focused on fiscal efficiency and public school advocacy. The district is grappling with stagnant enrollment and the rising impact of state private-school vouchers, an issue both candidates address.
Bomb Squad Sweeps Student Car at Matanzas High as Palm Coast Explosives Investigation Leads to Campus
A suspicious explosives investigation led Flagler County sheriff’s deputies to a student’s car at Matanzas High School today, prompting a partial campus “hold” and the arrival of a bomb squad. While an explosives-detection dog alerted to the vehicle, Sheriff Rick Staly emphasized there was no direct threat to the school or students. The investigation stems from two prior incidents in Palm Coast that are still under investigation. No arrests were made, and school officials expect to resume normal operations tomorrow.
Parking Capacity Will Double at Indian Trails Sports Complex, But Council Also Wants More Fields Lit Up Soon
The Palm Coast City Council unanimously approved a $1.55 million project to add 136 parking spaces to the Indian Trails Sports Complex, nearly doubling its capacity. Utilizing city crews is expected to save $350,000. While the project addresses long-standing congestion affecting nearby schools and churches, council members are also pushing to accelerate a $1 million lighting expansion for additional fields to maximize tourism revenue and accommodate a growing schedule of year-round sports tournaments.
After Anemic Congressional Campaign, Furry Pivots Back to School Board Re-Election from His Coveted Vice Chairmanship
Flagler County School Board member Will Furry has quit his bid to challenge U.S. Rep. Randy Fine in the GOP congressional primary to run for re-election to the School Board. Furry attributed his withdrawal to uncertainty over potential redistricting, though his campaign struggled to raise funds against opponents like Fine and Charles Gambaro. His return follows a contentious November episode where he and Chair Christy Chong deadlocked the board for nine hours to block a colleague’s appointment as vice chair.
What have immigrants ever done for America?
Our fearless governor has vowed to rid us of annoying people with strange accents and peculiar habits, especially in Florida’s institutions of higher education. Ron DeSantis demands the state Board of Governors “pull the plug” on those H-1B visas that allow practically any Tomás, Didier, or Haoran with a fancy degree and a slew of top-drawer publications to get a gig in our colleges.
Bill Would Add Ideological Viewpoint Protection in Florida Schools
The “Florida Student and School Personnel First Amendment and Religious Liberties Act,” introduced by Sen. Clay Yarborough and Rep. David Borrero, would add First Amendment “political and ideological” viewpoint protections against discrimination or “academic penalty” to current religious viewpoint and expression language in Florida Statute.
21 Red States Ask Appeals Court to Uphold Florida’s Sweeping School Library Book Bans
Republican attorneys general from 21 states are trying to help sway a federal appeals court to uphold a 2023 Florida law that led to books being removed from school libraries.
Flagler District Wants Exemption to Later School Start Times Despite Sleep Science on Healthier Adolescents
The Flagler County school district is preparing to exempt itself from a Florida law requiring later start times for middle and high schools by 2026. Citing logistical challenges, transportation costs, and parental preference for current schedules, district officials argue against the change despite scientific evidence supporting more sleep for adolescents. A recent district survey indicates that while parents acknowledge the health benefits of later starts, many fear disruptions to work schedules and extracurricular activities.
Florida Bill Would Allow All College Faculty and Teaching Assistants to Open Carry on Campus
Florida professors, university faculty, and teaching assistants could soon be able to openly carry firearms on campus, thanks to a sweeping new measure filed by a Republican lawmaker.
Doctors Clash with Florida Officials Over Plan to Repeal Meningitis and Chickenpox Vaccine Mandates for Schools
Florida health officials are advancing a proposal to eliminate school entry requirements for vaccines protecting against hepatitis B, chickenpox, and meningitis. While mandates for polio and MMR vaccines remain, officials signaled intent to eventually repeal those laws as well. At a contentious workshop, pediatricians warned the move invites fatal outbreaks and endangers herd immunity, while state officials and supporters defended the rollback as a victory for parental rights and informed consent.
Deputies Seize ‘Lipstick Knife’ and 29 THC Vapes in 3 Student Arrests at Flagler Palm Coast High School
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested three Flagler Palm Coast High School students this week following separate investigations, two for drug-related charges and a third for threatening another student with a knife.
DeSantis Unveils Final $117.4 Billion Budget: Raises for Police and Teachers, New College Takeover of USF-Sarasota
Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a final $117.36 billion “Floridians First” budget for 2026-2027, proposing raises for teachers and law enforcement, plus $278 million for cancer research. The plan includes a controversial directive for New College to absorb USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus. While touting record education investments, the proposal drew criticism from the teachers’ union. It also funds conservation, maintains tourism marketing, and supports a future property-tax slash amendment.
UF Adopts Strict ‘Neutrality’ Policy Forbidding Leaders’ Social Commentary Under Threat of Firing
To prevent alleged “ideological takeover,” UF Interim President Donald Landry and trustees adopted a strict “institutional neutrality” policy Friday forbidding leaders from commenting on social or political issues under threat of firing. Landry argued leadership silence is actually required to protect open discourse. The board also unanimously reelected Mori Hosseini—a major Ron DeSantis donor—as chair, solidifying his influence just months after the state rejected the trustees’ previous pick for president. Landry indicated he may seek the permanent post.
The Phoenix Declaration’s Serenade of Dog Whistles
The Heritage Foundation’s “Phoenix” doctrine, recently adopted by Florida, is a Christian nationalist manifesto designed to eradicate educational dissent. It prioritizes “parental omnipotence” over children’s intellectual freedom. By diverting public funds to private vouchers and sanitizing history, the doctrine cements a decades-long conservative war against public education and enforces a “pinched, angry” monoculture that suppresses critical thinking in favor of dogmatic, exclusionary patriotism.
Matanzas High’s Remy Battles Is 2025 Leaders for Life Fellow, One of Only 6 Statewide
Remy Battles, a senior at Matanzas High School, has been named a 2025 Leaders for Life Fellow, one of only six students statewide selected for the prestigious honor by the Asofsky Family Foundation.
4-Day School Weeks Winning Popularity But Fail Data Test
Four-day school weeks come down to staff recruitment and retention, fewer discipline problems and improved attendance, while they also help stretch tight school budgets. But the promised benefits have not shown up in the data as longer school days can harm academic performance. Such concerns might not matter as four-day school weeks become more popular nationwide.