The greatest solar eclipse to cross the United States since 1918 on Aug. 21 has the Flagler school district and others talking safety, best viewing practices and Palm Coast time checks.
Schools
Florida’s State Colleges Will See Their First Enrollment Increase in Seven Years
A new state forecast projects a 1 percent growth rate in enrollment in the 28 colleges during the 2017-18 academic year, representing the equivalent of 324,109 full-time students.
Daytona State College Fall Enrollment Set for Aug. 19
New and returning students can sign up for classes, financial aid and other needs or benefits in one visit to Daytona State College on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Wetherell Center at the Daytona Beach Campus, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.
Water Management District Offers $2,000 Grants to Teachers Promoting Water Protection
The St. Johns River Water Management District is accepting applications for its Blue School Grant Program of grants of up to $2,000 per teacher per school.
Florida’s Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday Is This Weekend: Here’s A Guide
Florida’s 2017 sales tax holiday on school supplies, clothing, shoes and personal computers and other select accessories is this weekend–starting at a minute after midnight Friday, Aug. 4, through midnight Sunday, Aug. 7.
Timothy Daniel, 17-Year-Old Student, Takes His Life With a Gun
For the Matanzas High School community, it is the fifth violent death involving a current or recently former student since January 2016: two students were killed in traffic-related crashes, three took their own lives.
Flagler’s Elementary Schools Will Accommodate New Requirement
of 20 Minutes of Recess Per Day
A new law requires districts to provide 100 minutes a week of free-play recess, outside of phys-ed classes, in elementary schools. Flagler was already providing close to that.
Appeals Court Skeptical Of Sitting In Judgment Over Florida’s Education Standards
The issue is whether courts can evaluate the state’s obligation under a 1998 constitutional amendment that declares it a “paramount duty of the state” to education all children.
A School Board Will Sue the State Over Charter-Tilted Education Bill Most Districts Opposed
The new law overhauls swaths of state education, dealing with everything from mandatory recess for elementary school students and standardized testing to charter school funding and teacher bonuses.
School District Advised to Cut Down on Car Riders and Push Bus Riding Instead, For Safety
Detailed studies for each of the Flagler district’s elementary and middle schools reveal problematic safety issues with too many car riders, too few sidewalks, and disobeyed traffic laws.
At Residents’ Meeting Over F-Section Footpath, A Lot of Venting, and Hope for More Sustained Organizing
A group of residents are seeking another way to oppose a planned path in the F Section, but have few options to chance a city council that has twice approved the path.
Flagler Is a B-Rated School District For 5th Year In a Row, But State Ranking Keeps Rising
Indian Trails Middle and Old Kings Elementary returned to A form, FPC climbed to a B, but Wadsworth Elementary fell to a C. Other schools maintained their grades–either B or C.
Flagler School Board Apprehensive of Changes in Law Affecting Charters, Recess and Religion
One law is altering the relationship between the district and its charter schools and imposing new requirements on eligibility for Bright Futures, and other laws will have broad impacts.
FPC’s Anna Crawford Is Wasdworth’s New Principal, Volusia’s Reeves Takes Matanzas
Anna Crawford had been assistant principal at Flagler Palm Coast High School and Belle Terre Elementary, Jeff Reaves is a Volusia County import.
Trump Administration Quietly Rolls Back Civil Rights Efforts Across Federal Government
Previously unannounced directives will limit the Department of Justice’s use of a storied civil rights enforcement tool, and loosen the Department of Education’s requirements on investigations.
How the Education Bill Scott Signed Thursday Will Hurt Flagler Schools, Favoring Charters
The Flagler school district is now 64th out of 67 in per-pupil funding, and the bill Gov. Scott signed today will force the district to turn over more money to charter schools.
Gov. Scott Vetoes Higher Education Bill, Citing Cuts to State Colleges and Caps on Enrollment
Scott objected to an enrollment cap on baccalaureate degrees for the 28 state colleges and cutting college’s budget by $25 million, while substantially increasing spending on state universities.
Both Sides Pressuring Scott on School Bill That Drew Protest Firestorm from Education Leaders
The bill’s passage infuriated school boards, superintendents, the state’s main teachers and other education advocates. Scott hinted that he was considering a veto at the time.
At International Competition, FPC’s Teams Take Grand Champion and 1st, Bunnell Takes 2nd
An FPC team’s project designed to cater to those who cater to the sick in hospitals won grand champion, the project that built bat houses to combat the Zika virus won first place.
Flagler Students Make Gains In Almost Every Discipline, Ranking in State’s Upper Half or Third
By almost every measure, Flagler students improved their English, math, science and social science scores, year over year, according to 2017 test results released today.
Matanzas Students Want F-Section Path, But Opponents Say City Should Build Sidewalk On Old Kings Instead
A raucous, emotional meeting at Matanzas High pitted proponents of a foot and bike path through the heart of the F Section against opponents who say it’s misplaced and ill-advised.
1st Shake-Up of New Superintendent’s Tenure Elevates Matanzas Principal to District Leadership Job
Matanzas High’s Earl Johnson moves to a top leadership position at the district office, Wadsworth Principal John Fanelli takes over Buddy Taylor Middle School, and Nathan Lovelette takes over the virtual academy.
A Lifetime In One Picture
My Daughter Odysseus
FlaglerLive’s editor reflects on the painful and joyful history behind a moment unexpectedly captured by a photographer at his daughter’s graduation from Grinnell College last week.
J. Marie Battenhouse, 19, Is Killed in I-95 Crash; Former Matanzas Student Is 20th Death on Flagler Roads This Year
Jirawadee Marie Battenhouse, a 19-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s C Section, died early Saturday morning (May 27) as a result of her injuries, hours after a two-vehicle crash on I-95 near Palm Coast Parkway.
The Live Interview
Six Questions For James Tager, Superintendent
James Tager, who begins as Superintendent June 1, answers questions about his temperament, open government, transgender rights, zero tolerance and other issues.
Home Rule: Palm Beach District Challenges Constitutionality of Charter School Law
It’s a first step in asking the Florida Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional a law that allows the State Board of Education to overturn local denials of charter-school applications.
Go Ahead, Gov. Scott, Veto This Bad Education Bill in Good Conscience
Gov. Scott has said he wants to sign only bills that are good for Florida families. This one is not. Its process was particularly dishonest — something even committed conservatives should disown when they look at it up close.
Flagler 3rd Graders’ Reading Scores Jump, And Exceed State Average By 11 Points
The Flagler school district average of 69 percent of students at proficiency or better exceeds the state average of 58 by 11 points as every elementary school showed strong improvement.
School Board Veto Call to Scott: “Legislators Didn’t Follow Basic Tenets We Teach Students in 7th Grade Civics”
The Flagler County School Board complete letter to Gov. Rick Scott asking him to veto an education bill that would “shortchange” Flagler County students. The bill was passed at the last minute with little discussion.
House Bill 7069 Will Change Education in Flagler For Generations, Not For the Better
Flagler County School Board Chairman Trevor Tucker explains his opposition to a massive education bill, focusing on the bill’s preferential treatment of charter schools at the expense of traditional public schools.
Gov. Scott Faces Increasing Pressure to Veto Education Bill, Including From Flagler District
The Flagler County School Board joined its voice to a growing chorus of demands from across the state that Gov. Rick Scott veto a massive education bill opponents consider damaging to school districts.
Daytona State Will Not Increase Tuition in 2017-18, But a Few Fees Will Go Up
Tuition will remain flat even though the Florida Legislature slashed the budgets of public colleges across the state by $30 million in the session just ended. The cuts affected remedial education.
Middle and High School Students Can Rejoice: ID Cards May Be Carried Through Cell Phone
The Flagler School Board is set to approve a rule change in June that would allow students no longer to have to wear their ID badges, and to show them through their cell phone if requested, come the 2017-18 school year.
School Board Awards Superintendent Tager $135,000 Contract Plus Performance Bonuses
James Tager’s full compensation package, before incentives kick in, is $154,200, with $5,000-worth of recurring bonuses if he pushes the district to earn an A and improves its graduation rate.
Critics Urge Gov. Scott to Veto Massive Education Bill as Details of Legislation Emerge
The bill was pushed by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Land O’ Lakes Republican who sparred with the governor throughout the session over economic-development incentives and tourism marketing.
Lawmakers Approve Budget With Tax Cuts, Severe Cuts to Medicaid, Minor Increase For Education and Big Boost to Charters
The budget package includes a modest increase in per-student spending through the state’s main education formula, $521 million in Medicaid cuts for hospitals and far-reaching changes to education across the board.
It’s James Tager: School Board Picks Volusia District Veteran for Superintendent in Rare Unanimous Vote
The unanimous vote for the Volusia County principal and former deputy superintendent is a rare sign of agreement for a school board that has had difficulties finding common ground in the last months.
James Tager Clear Favorite for Superintendent as Stilted Process Nears Vote Tonight
Flagler County School Board members left little doubt in a 50-minute discussion this morning that Volusia County’s James Tager is by far their first choice. But the process has been starkly constrained.
School Bus Driver Cited For Carelessness in Crash After “Clearly” Violating Right-Of-Way
Wilrick A. Woods, 60, got a $166 citation for careless driving after driving his school bus in the path of an SUV, whose driver suffered severe injuries in a crash Monday.
With Florida as Example, Charlie Crist Files Bill Seeking Seat Belts on School Buses Nationwide
School districts also are concerned about the estimated $7,000 to $10,000 cost of adding seat belts to a new bus, though Florida is already covered: seat belts on school buses is a state law.
Short of Stellar, FPC and Matanzas Earn Bronze and Silver in U.S. News’ High School Rankings
Matanzas came in at 160 in the state and 2,297 in the nation, getting silver, FPC came in at 183 in the state and did not get a national ranking, though its IB program’s achievements were not calculated as in previous years’ rankings.
4 Hurt in Head-On Crash Between SUV and School, Bus at Royal Palms and Rymfire
Four people were hurt including two children in a crash involving a school bus and an SUV at the intersection of Royal Palms Parkway and Rymfire Drive in Palm Coast this morning just before sunup.
Flagler Schools Superintendent Interviews: James Tager
James Tager, the closest thing to a home-grown candidate for the Flagler County School Superintendent job, projected confidence, fluent knowledge of local and state issues and quite a bit of familiarity with Flagler schools.
Flagler Schools Superintendent Interviews: Gerald Wilson
In approach and demeanor, Gerald Wilson echoed Janet Valentine, the superintendent who preceded Jacob Oliva: not much excitability or charisma, but solid knowledge and deference to process.
Flagler Schools Superintendent Interviews: Jeff Umbaugh
Jeff Umbaugh was energetic, congenial, discursive, fast-talking, quick to take verbal tangents or make the occasional humorous aside, but mostly, he spoke in generalities and clichés.
Rocky Superintendent Search Jarred Again as Phyllis Edwards Withdraws Candidacy
With the latest top candidate to drop out, the Flagler County School Board’s search for a new superintendent is turning into a poorly scripted season of Survivor.
2 Teens Face Felonies For Firing BB Gun at Full School Bus and Vehicles on Belle Terre
There were 40 students returning from Bunnell Elementary when the school bus was the target of boys allegedly firing a BB and an air soft gun at the vehicle on Belle Terre Boulevard Wednesday afternoon.
In Unprecedented Flagler Beach Town Hall, Old Kings Elementary Students Become All Stars of Ideas
Mayor Linda Provencher’s Kids Town Hall drew a standing-room-only crowd, almost the entire city commission and the city’s top staff for a lively hour of ideas and suggestions from Old Kings Elementary students.
As One More Name Drops Out, Board Settles On 4 Candidates For Superintendent Interviews
James Tager, the principal at Atlantic High School in Volusia County, is the front-runner, getting all five board members’ nod, in an otherwise more fractured field as yet another top candidate dropped out.
Eyes on International Prizes, Flagler’s Problem Solvers Launch Flocking Fund-Raising Season
Two mayors, two county commissioners and a school board member gathered Monday for the launch of Flagler Schools’ Future Problem Solvers’ fund-raising season to help send 51 students to international competition in Wisconsin in June.