The Flagler County School Board held its business meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, approving several proclamations and debating changes to the job description for the district’s Chief Human Resources Officer position.
All board members were present for the meeting: Chair Christy Chong, Lauren Ramirez, Janie Ruddy, and Will Furry. Superintendent LaShakia Moore and student board members Olivia Delgado and Ava Moldun also attended.
Proclamations Approved
The board approved three proclamations recognizing February 2026 observances.
John Winston presented the Black History Month proclamation, noting that the African-American Mentor Program, known as AMP, was designed in 2002 to close the reading achievement gap for males, with a girls division added in 2011. The program has served more than 2,300 students from elementary through high school.
Martin Evans, the district’s Career and Technical Education specialist, read the CTE Month proclamation, highlighting that nearly 4,000 secondary students are currently enrolled in one of 116 registered CTE courses. In 2025, Flagler Schools students earned 329 digital tool certifications and 976 specialized industry certifications.
Student board members Olivia Delgado and Ava Moldun presented the Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month proclamation, noting that dating violence affects one in three teens, and the 2026 theme is “Real Love Respects.”
Superintendent Receives Recognition
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Kai Delta Omega chapter, presented Superintendent Moore with a Woman of Excellence award during public comment. Dr. Myra Middleton Bell read a proclamation from Palm Coast Mayor Michael Norris declaring January 18, 2026, as Women of Excellence Day in honor of Moore.
The proclamation noted that Moore is the first African-American superintendent of Flagler County Schools and was unanimously appointed to the position. Moore is guided by her personal motto: “I do not want to be famous. I want to be impactful.”
HR Chief Job Description Amended After Debate
The board engaged in extensive debate over the job description for the Chief Human Resources Officer position, which was pulled from the consent agenda at the request of board member Janie Ruddy.
Ruddy expressed concern that the qualifications did not require HR professional certification, noting the position handles sensitive matters, including mediation, lawsuits, and salary schedules. “We are moving towards a higher caliber organization. We want to attract and continue to attract and recruit the best in-class personnel, and so we should ask for what we want and expect in the job role,” she said.
Board member Will Furry opposed adding strict certification requirements. “Whenever somebody comes to interview for a job, they bring their best forward. They show all their qualifications, and then it’s up to us to vet that candidate and then hire the best one that we have in the application pool,” he said. “I don’t think that we should restrict it in a way that would deter a potentially excellent, qualified candidate who didn’t have that one specific certification.”
Superintendent Moore noted that education is about continuous improvement and professional learning rather than just certifications obtained at one point in time.
A motion to approve the job description as written failed, with Furry and Ramirez voting in favor and Reddy and Chong voting against.
Board member Ramirez then proposed an amendment to add a post-hire requirement that if the selected candidate does not already have an advanced HR certification or equivalent public sector HR compliance training, they must obtain it within a timeframe determined by the superintendent and cabinet. The amended motion passed unanimously.
Consent Agenda Approved
The board approved the minutes from previous meetings unanimously.
Finance items 7.01 through 7.07 were approved unanimously. Academic services items 9.01 through 9.06 were approved unanimously. Human resource services items 10.01 and 10.03 through 10.07, excluding the HR chief job description, were approved unanimously. Operational services items 11.01 through 11.02 were approved unanimously. Superintendent consent items 12.01 through 12.03 were approved unanimously.
The board noted that policy 0141.01 regarding student school board members had been pulled from the agenda for additional revisions.
Board Member Requests
Board member Ruddy made two requests for future agenda items.
She requested that the board vote on joining FLEET, a nonprofit trust designed to help Florida school districts control employee health plan costs. She noted the district has been in discussions with FLEET for over a year and that participating districts could realize savings of 7% to 12%, which she estimated could be approximately $1 million for Flagler Schools.
Ruddy also requested that the board begin the process to potentially rename the Flagler Schools Engagement Center after Dr. Jim Guines, who served as an educator, superintendent, and school board member for 11 years. He was also the founder of AMP and the Make It and Take It program, which provided computers to those in need.
Tallahassee Advocacy Trip
Board members Ramirez, Ruddy, and Furry announced they would be traveling to Tallahassee to meet with State Senator Tom Leek and State Representative Sam Greco to advocate for two legislative priorities.
The first is rural Renaissance legislation, which would provide recurring funding and grants to strengthen shared services among small and rural districts. The second is updating capital funding formulas to recognize all students, including pre-K students and adult education students who are not currently included in state funding formulas.
“We’re hoping to secure millions and millions of dollars,” Ramirez said during the earlier workshop. “So wish us luck.”
Education Foundation Updates
Teresa Rizzo from the Flagler County Education Foundation highlighted upcoming events, including middle school college and career fairs. The Indian Trails Middle School Career Fair was held recently, with Buddy Taylor Middle School hosting one on Friday.
On February 3, in partnership with AdventHealth and NASCAR, the number three AdventHealth stock car will visit Matanzas High School and Flagler Palm Coast High School. Rizzo noted this will be the first time the showcar has been displayed at schools anywhere in the United States.
The Education Foundation’s Mardi Gras Gala benefiting Take Stock in Children and the senior scholarship program is scheduled for February 17.
Construction Projects Under Budget
Board member Furry noted during closing comments that the district completed over $25 million worth of improvements to schools, adding more than 300 student stations, with every project coming in under budget. The new chiller system at Matanzas High School is expected to save approximately $5,000 per month in electricity costs, and Florida Power and Light provided a rebate of $220,000 for the energy-efficient investment.
School Updates
Superintendent Moore reminded families that controlled open enrollment begins February 1 for elementary and middle school students. High school students interested in attending Matanzas or Flagler Palm Coast must apply separately for the ACE or IB programs.
Matanzas High School will host its Future Pirate Showcase for incoming freshmen on February 5, and Flagler Palm Coast High School will host a similar event on February 10.
Student board members reported on numerous achievements, including the FPC women’s soccer team finishing 14-5-1 and winning the five-star conference, the Mu Alpha Theta club placing second out of 19 schools in regional competition, and HOSA members bringing home multiple trophies from regionals.
The meeting was adjourned following closing comments.
