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sue dickinson

School District’s Decision to Demolish Old ITT Building Triggers Upheaval Behind the Scenes

February 24, 2016 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

one corporate plaza

A board member pledged to call the attorney general over the improper end of the discussion surrounding the 3-2 vote last week, and the company picked to demolish the building lost the license enabling it to do so.

Call The Question! School Board Moves to Demolish Old ITT Building in “Awkward” Vote

February 17, 2016 | FlaglerLive | 17 Comments

sue dickinson flagler county school board flaglerlive

The school board will spend $163,000 to demolish the iconic hulk on Palm Coast Parkway, but the 5-0 vote was marred and rushed by an improper maneuver by board member Sue Dickinson.

Artless Censors: The Flagler’s School Board’s Misplaced Allegiance to “Staff”

December 18, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 21 Comments

flagler school board pledge flag

The Flagler school board shirked its responsibility when it chose to be a cheerleader for a principal instead of offering guidance and oversight after a student’s art work was censored at FPC.

With YMCA Talks Dead, District Looks For Belle Terre Swim Club Savior in Final Effort

August 20, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 8 Comments

belle terre swim and racquet club

With the YMCA, Palm Coast and the county uninterested in supporting it, the days of the Belle Terre Swim Club as a public facility will end this fall if no bidder is found by early October.

The End of Phoenix: Divided School Board Votes to Replace It With STEM Academy at Wadsworth

June 17, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

phoenix academy wadsworth

A contentious vote reflecting the board’s unhappiness with lack of transparency nevertheless led to the creation of a new STEM academy at Wadsworth, closing the long-embattled Phoenix Academy next fall.

In a Victory for Students, Divided School Board Relaxes High School Dress Code Substantially

May 19, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 26 Comments

gregory gardner michael manning flagler county schools dress code

Starting in fall, students in high school can wear school t-shirts, club shirts or team jerseys, as well as plaid and striped collared shirts. The policy does not change existing rules for middle and elementary school students. The board voted 3-2 to adopt the new policy.

Despite Pleading With State For Earlier Start Date, School Board Now Opts Against It

April 21, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 8 Comments

After lobbying the state to let it start school on Aug. 10 instead of Aug. 24, the Flagler school board on Tuesday stuck with the Aug. 24 date even though a new law would have allowed the district to move up the calendar.

Fearful of Scaring Buyers or Undervaluing Property, School Board Haggles to $2.3 Million Price for Corporate Building

February 19, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

The Flagler school board now finds itself in the paradoxical position of attractively advertising the ex-ITT property for sale after it was essentially condemned as a school facility.

District Adopts School Calendar It Did Not Want, Starting Late and Shortening Thanksgiving Break

February 17, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 12 Comments

The Flagler School Board wanted to start school in early August to give students more time to prepare for exams, but state law forbids it, forcing a calendar of its own on local districts.

Spirited Proposal to Relax Dress Code in Flagler Schools Meets More Resistance Than Reason From Board

January 21, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 22 Comments

Michael Manning, the student representative on the school board, is proposing to extend Friday’s more relaxed dress code to all days of the week, and he doesn’t fear challenging board members’ claims along the way.

All Flagler Elementary Schools Will Have School Cops This Year, Even as SRD Total Won’t Change

July 17, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 29 Comments

The Flagler School district approved a plan that spreads its five full-time School Resource Deputies between 11 schools, reducing FPC’s cops to one full-timer, with the other dividing time between three elementary schools, and cops at two middle schools covering an elementary school each.

No Surprise: Flagler School Board Votes 5-0 To Appoint Jacob Oliva Superintendent

February 4, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 19 Comments

Jacob Oliva, who was appointed Flager County's new superintendent, during his job interview last week. (c FlaglerLive)

The initial tally, reflecting how board members ranked the two candidates, was actually 4-1, with Collen Conklin voting for Pam Tapley of Osceola County schools, but the vote to actually appoint Oliva superintendent was unanimous, to reflect the board’s unanimity.

Board Picks 3 For Superintendent Interviews, But 2 Will Have To Travel on Their Own Dime

January 23, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

The Flagler school board elected to interview Jacob Oliva–its current acting superintendent–James Parla of New Jersey and Pamela Tapley of Osceola County, but the board was bitterly divided over whether to pay for candidates’ accommodation and travel. A 3-2 split decided against paying.

Board May Forego Buying Out Superintendent Valentine’s Contract, Saving her $18,000

January 7, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 8 Comments

School Board Attorney Kristy Gavin is recommending that the board not buy out the $75,000 and six months remaining on Superintendent Janet Valentine’s contract, since the board would owe her benefits through July, and Assistant Superintendent Jacob Oliva is running the district with no plans of having the permanent position filled until July 1.

Superintendent Valentine Will Not Return to Work; “Expedited” Search Will Continue

December 17, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

The Flagler County School Board will look to buy out Janet Velentine’s contract, which runs through June. An attempt to appoint Jacob Oliva superintendent fell short as the board decided to stuck with an expedited search and a Feb. 4 appointment.

Superintendent Jacob Oliva: School Board Frames a Near-Certainty In Pro-Forma Search

December 5, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 12 Comments

It is almost a certainty that come Feb. 4, Jacob Oliva will be named Flagler County’s new school superintendent, but the school board has appointed a 15-member search committee to broaden public input, vet Oliva and avoid accusations of reaching a pre-determined conclusion. Nevertheless, Oliva’s favored status has rankled some members of the black community.

Jacob Oliva All But Appointed School District’s Next Superintendent as NAACP Objects

August 21, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 42 Comments

The Flagler County School Board will forego a state or national search and advertise locally for a new superintendent even as a majority of the board is ready to appoint Jacob Oliva, the former FPC principal, to replace Janet Valentine, a decision the NAACP calls “cronyism” in light of internal issues the organization says won;t be addressed by hiring from within.

District Throws In Towel on School Uniforms, Largely Relaxing Policy For Simplicity’s Sake

June 4, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 48 Comments

For high school students in Flagler schools, specific color restrictions will be gone, as long as students wear solid colors and sweatshirts and other “outerwear,” including all sorts of logos, will be allowed, making the policy look more like the pre-uniform dress code than not. Restrictions would still be in place for younger students.

Sue McVeigh Is a State Finalist for Employee Of the Year, a First for Flagler School District

April 16, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 3 Comments

For the first time ever, the Flagler County school district has a finalist for the state-wide Employee of the Year award. Sue McVeigh, an exceptional education specialist, will travel to Legoland on May 17 to the final award banquet.

Flagler School District Is Glowingly Re-Accredited, a Timely Validation Ahead of Levy Push

March 13, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 35 Comments

The Flagler County school district was re-accredited for the next five years by the nation’s leading accreditation agency, a boon to the district as it makes the case to voters that they should approve a levy raising property taxes modestly to preserve programs and improve security.

Flagler School District Will Propose New Tax, Citing Costly Security Needs and Programs

March 5, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 36 Comments

The school board voted 4-1 to ask voters to approve doubling an existing critical-needs levy, to 50 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value–a decision Board Chairman Andy Dance opposed for being too large, citing “school-funding fatigue” among voters.

School Security’s Buy-A-Cop Delusions

February 3, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 45 Comments

The Flagler County School board this week will debate adoption of a new security plan that includes adding armed cops in elementary schools. The approach would be costly, ineffective, and more emotional than intelligent. Smarter approaches–and far greater priorities–abound.

In a Day of Inaugurals, 3 Governments Swear In New Members and 2 Elect New Chairmen

November 20, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

The Flagler County Commission, the school board and the Palm Coast City Council all either welcomed new members or shuffled their chairmanships in an annual ritual with a mixture of ceremony and consequences.

Flagler School Board Rejects Building-Tax Cut, a Blow to Builders and the Chamber

October 2, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 19 Comments

Chamber President Doug Baxter had hoped Palm Coast would “fall in line” with a building-tax moratorium of its own if the county and the school board adopted one. The county did. The school board refused to go along Tuesday evening, calling the proposal irresponsible.

Flagler School Board Hails Sales Tax Victory and Revenue But Readies to Lose $2 Million

August 21, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 3 Comments

Voters' renewal of a half-penny sales tax, for 10 years, for Flagler schools, made for a very happy school board Tuesday evening. (Brian Barnett)

As Sue Dickinson and Colleen Conklin took their seats after winning a fourth term, the school board learned that its sales tax revenue was up to $4.2 million, thanks to more sales activity in the county. But the district is also losing at least $2 million from the expiration of an unrelated tax by year’s end.

Uniform Policy Rules and Penalties Dress Up School District’s New Code of Conduct Edition

August 7, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 50 Comments

school uniforms flagler schools

The Flagler County School Board Monday approved rules and penalties that apply to the district’s new uniform policy. But the Code of Conduct makes many allowances for students who cannot wear uniforms.

Two Flagler School Board Races Will be Decided Aug. 14: The Live Interviews

August 5, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

Three-term incumbents Sue Dickinson and Colleen Conklin are being challenged by Bill Corkran and Debbie Laury in two contests for the Flagler County School Board that will be decided Aug. 14. All registered voters may vote regardless of party affiliation or address.

Bill Corkran, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview

July 30, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

bill corkran flagler county school board candidate

Bill Corkran is one of four candidates in two races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 14 primary election, which will decide the winners: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.

Sue Dickinson, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview

July 30, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 9 Comments

Sue Dickinson is one of four candidates in two races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 14 primary election, which will decide the winners: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.

Colleen Conklin, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview

July 30, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

Colleen Conklin is one of four candidates in two races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 14 primary election, which will decide the winners: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.

Deborah Laury, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview

July 30, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 12 Comments

Deborah Laury is one of four candidates in two races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 14 primary election, which will decide the winners: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.

Flagler School District’s Feared Budget Cut Was Vastly Overstated, But Tax Cut Is Real

July 18, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 3 Comments

Flagler's school taxes continue to decline, and--common mis-perceptions aside--to be significantly lower than in the past. Click on the image for larger view. (© FlaglerLive)

A report in the papers this morning that the Flagler school district was facing an additional $3.8 million cut (or 4 percent of its budget) was premature. The state is cutting the local school tax and its revenue, but making up all the difference except $400,000, which the district has already plugged.

Uniform Fashion Show Punctuates School District’s Last Forum Before Final Policy Vote

December 7, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 59 Comments

The show, during a forum meant to be more even-handed than shilling, was designed to give an audience of about 45 some idea of what the uniforms might look like, if the school board–currently favoring the policy 3-2–finally ratifies the initiative on Jan. 17.

Town Hall on School Uniforms Draws Out Big Opposition; Decision Set for Jan. 3

November 15, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 21 Comments

John Fischer, the school board member pushing for school uniforms, did not attend the meeting at the Flagler Auditorium, which drew some 150 people, a third of whom spoke–with a 5-to-1 margin opposing uniforms.

Invoking Migration to Charters, A Split Flagler School Board Favors Move Toward Uniforms

October 18, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 14 Comments

Reacting in part to a pronounced migration of students to charter schools in the county–and in part to its own leanings–the Flagler school board Tuesday agreed to solicit parental input in preparation for a uniform policy.

School Board Rejects Administrators’ 2% Raise, Awards It to Lesser-Paid Professionals

July 26, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 19 Comments

The proposed raise for the 50-some administrators in the county, who make between $50,000 and $100,000, had triggered a political wildfire. Board members were more willing to give the raise to supervisors paid, for the most part, less than teachers.

Do Flagler School Administrators Making $97,000 a Year Need A Raise? They Say Yes.

July 19, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 78 Comments

Some 25 Flagler school administrators make between $80,000 and $105,000 a year. They’re saying they were disrespected when denied a 2 percent raise. The school board is reconsidering.

Flagler School Board Defends Its Own Budget Cutting, Batting Down Most Alternatives

May 17, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 11 Comments

The county’s teacher and service employee unions and the tea party all questioned the way the district went about preparing next year’s budget, but without changing the district’s direction.

Get Some: Sex Ed Survey Now Open to Flagler Parents; Student Survey March 23 and 24

March 22, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 8 Comments

ruth westheimer

Parents with children in school and residents without children are invited to take the Flagler school district’s sex education survey to guide school board policy. Middle and high school students take the survey March 23 and 24.

Sex-Ed in Flagler: School District Prepares to Move Away from Abstinence Only

March 14, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 13 Comments

Balthus katia reading

Flagler’s sex-ed curriculum is abstinence only. But it’s barely taught and it appears not to address rising STD rates, though Flagler’s teen-pregnancy rate is lower than that of Florida or the United States. School board members are exploring a change.

Severe, $3.5 Million in School Cuts on the Way: 40 Teachers, Shorter Days, Shorter Calendar

February 23, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 20 Comments

The Flagler County School Board agreed to the cuts today, the result of federal stimulus aid running out and Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed cuts to the education budget. Many of the cuts must be negotiated with the unions.

In Palm Coast, Another Dud Turnout At School Tax Town Hall

October 19, 2010 | FlaglerLive | 6 Comments

sue dickinson flagler county schools tax referendum

School officials had thought (and feared) that the tea party throngs would turn up at Monday’s town hall on the proposed $0.25 mill school tax referendum. They didn’t. What those tea leaves say is not clear.

Battling Referendums: School Tax Will Compete With Building Tax in November

July 22, 2010 | FlaglerLive | 18 Comments

In the wost of times, voters will be asked to approve a tax levy to continue existing funding on top of a new tax favored by the chamber of commerce for building commercial properties.

Transition in Style: It’s Janet Valentine’s School District Now as Delbrugge Exits

July 2, 2010 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

Janet Valentine this week began filling Bill Delbrugge’s shoes amid high expectations and some concerns.

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