Trevor Tucker, who served 12 years on the Flagler County School Board, is running again for the District 4 seat. In a recent interview, he explained his reasons for running and shared his views on several issues facing the district.
Why He’s Running Again
Tucker said he felt there were things left unfinished during his previous 12 years on the board. He said family and community members encouraged him to run again, but pointed to a bigger reason: friction among current board members. “There’s some slight dysfunction on the board. It’s not a very cohesive unit,” he said, adding that a school board needs a good working relationship among its members for the school system to succeed.
Superintendent Turnover
Tucker said one of the district’s most pressing issues is whether it can retain its superintendent. He said Flagler County has gone through a new superintendent roughly every three to four years for at least the last 16 years. He said that level of turnover brings a different leadership style each time, disrupting progress before it can build.
School Resource Deputies and the Homestead Exemption
Tucker raised concerns about funding for school resource deputies, which he said are currently split between Flagler County and the city of Palm Coast. He said that if a statewide homestead exemption amendment passes, it could strain that funding arrangement, and he believes the issue should be discussed proactively rather than after problems arise.
Academics and Career Programs
Tucker said the quality of education remains the top priority for students and families. He said the district should offer more individualized academic paths and pointed to existing programs, including the IB program and the ACE program, that he said work well but are limited by funding. He said he would like to see those programs expanded into middle and elementary schools if funding allowed.
On career and technical programs, Tucker said the district should consult with local businesses to identify which skills and jobs are in demand. He pointed to the district’s Firefighter Academy as an example of a popular program that has to turn away students because classes fill up during freshman year and don’t accept new students in later grades. He said the district should work with Flagler County Fire Department, whose employees teach the courses, to expand capacity given the county’s own budget pressures.
The construction and woodworking program at Matanzas High School, which fills up quickly when enrollment opens. Tucker said he was on the board when the facility was rebuilt, which required investment in equipment as well as classroom space. He said expanding the program would mean working with groups like the Home Builders Association to gauge demand and possibly gain support for growth.
Homeschool and Private School Accountability
Tucker said he supports school choice for families using vouchers or grants for homeschool or private school options, but said there should be more accountability attached to that funding. He said public schools are required to follow state academic standards and testing requirements, while homeschool and private school options funded by the same tax dollars are not held to the same standards. “I just want accountability for those tax dollars, for the same level playing field,” he said.
Bus Driver Shortage and VPK Transportation
Tucker acknowledged a nationwide shortage of school bus drivers and said Flagler Schools has been offering to train and pay for drivers to get their commercial licenses. He said the district struggles to retain drivers once they gain a couple of years of experience, since other employers often pay more. He also said some families are unable to access Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten programs due to a lack of transportation, and noted that VPK is not funded through the same K-12 tax dollars, meaning the district would need another funding source to address it.
Planning for Growth
When asked about planning for residential growth in Flagler County, including thousands of new homes planned in Palm Coast and Bunnell, Tucker said state law limits how far ahead school districts can plan. He said districts cannot secure funding for new schools until existing ones are over capacity, and must first show they are using all available space through an annual audit called the Florida Inventory of School Housing. He said this can create a four- to five-year lag between when a school becomes overcrowded and when construction on a new one can begin.
District-Owned Properties
Tucker addressed public interest in properties owned by the school district, including the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club, which the district has converted into a wellness facility. He said the district also owns other properties that are unlikely to ever be used for a school, including about seven acres near a hospital on Palm Coast Parkway and 20 acres on the Intracoastal Waterway. He said it is recommended to use 30 acres for an elementary school and 40 acres for middle and high schools, with an ideal size closer to 90 acres for a high school. Tucker said he believes the district should sell underused properties and use the proceeds to acquire larger sites suited for future schools, rather than holding land it will likely never build on.
On the Belle Terre facility specifically, Tucker said it was originally donated to the district by ITT and operated for years as a revenue-generating facility. He said profits declined as other fitness options opened in the area, and that in his final years on the board, the district used “wraparound” fees — charges paid by parents for early drop-off or late pickup — to cover shortfalls at the facility. He questioned whether it was fair for those parents to effectively subsidize a fitness facility. He also noted that, unlike the county or city governments, the school district does not receive funding for recreational purposes, so any facility the district builds or maintains must serve a K-12 educational purpose.
Teacher Retention and Pay
Tucker said the district faces challenges retaining teachers long-term. He said the district’s general fund, which pays salaries, is limited compared to capital funds, which are supported by a half-cent sales tax and used for technology such as student iPads and computers. He said general fund dollars need to be spent intentionally to support the people doing the work, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and bus drivers, whom he said in some cases are barely earning a living wage. He said he would support state legislation giving school districts more flexibility to use capital dollars, noting that Flagler’s schools are newer and better maintained than many in the state, potentially freeing up funds that could go toward raising teacher pay.
Closing Pitch to Voters
Asked why residents should vote for him over his opponents, Tucker pointed to his 12 years of board experience and encouraged voters to review his conduct at past meetings. He credited the board as a whole, rather than himself individually, for accomplishments during his tenure, including the introduction of the ACE program and the Firefighter Academy. He described himself as a fiscally conservative business owner with children currently enrolled in the school system.
