- April 19, 2024
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The proposed High School X would offer vocational programs, including construction and cosmetology, for about 60 students.
In order to create more opportunities for high school students, a team led by Bob Nocella, director of Flagler Technical Institute, is exploring the possibility of creating a new vocational school for 11th- and 12th-grade students.
The proposed vocational school, dubbed “High School X,” could offer four programs using FTI facilities: construction, cosmetology, information technology and patient care technology.
Nocella suggested the cosmetology school, currently located in a portable on Flagler Palm Coast High School campus, could be moved. Relocating cosmetology to Roma Court, just across the street from the FTI campus, would free a portable for FPC use, as well as remove the need for GED-seeking adults to be on high school grounds.
The estimated cost of this project, based on 60 students, is $177,000.
“We have a good group of students who would benefit from a program like this,” said Kevin McCarthy, assistant principal at FPC.
But the board was concerned with the figures.
“I just don’t feel like, at this point in time, we have a full picture of what we’re getting into,” School Board member Colleen Conklin said. “The timing’s all wrong for this.”
Nocella said High School X students would graduate with a standard diploma. They would have a “home” school and take a shuttle from it to High School X everyday, conducting core classes online, via iFlagler labs, and the rest in vocational-technology classes.
“It would be a separate school,” said Diane Dyer, director of High School and Virtual Instruction. But for sports and clubs, students could return to their “home” schools to participate.
The board looks forward to reviewing a more detailed charter in the future.
Board supports half-penny
The School Board will be supporting the renewal of the half-penny sales tax, which was instated in 2002. Since put to law, the tax has raised $29 million through 2010 for Flagler County Schools, funding the $2 million Belle Terre Elementary School, as well as the purchase of MacBooks for use in classrooms.
“(We need the tax renewed) to keep us where we are, to keep the status quo,” said Administrator Mike Judd.
FiberNET to connect schools
The board also approved a bid from the city of Palm Coast to provide wide-area network telecommunications services via its FiberNET.
Palm Coast-based LUX Communications will be the Internet service provider. This provider change should save the board roughly $5,000, while upgrading Internet speed.
Abstinence to get makeover?
Healthy Choices Curriculum will be hosting a prescription drug education program to be taken by all sixth grade classes, in March.
The presenters are Junior Medical Reserve Corp students from FPC. The presentation was designed by the University of Florida School of Pharmacy.
Katrina Townsend, director of student services, having previously addressed the board about revising the school’s abstinence-only policy to abstinence-plus, proposed hosting a community forum to discuss the issue.
“The stats on teen pregnancy and venereal disease … are pretty negative,” Townsend said, and abstinence-plus would allow for broader and more in-depth discussion.
The community forum will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7, in the Government Services Building.
