- March 27, 2024
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The Flagler County School Board approved a list of capital projects for 2012 to 2016.
The Flagler County School Board approved by a vote of 3-2, Tuesday, Aug. 2, a capital outlay plan for the 2012 to 2016 school years, including renovation and construction projections totaling $1.9 million.
In a workshop preceding the meeting, Finance Director Tom Tant outlined how capital outlay revenues — funds from utility, license tag and lottery taxes — can be spent.
The monies filter through the Department of Education, he said, and can only be spent on specific projects. As School Board member Colleen Conklin noted: the School Board doesn’t have a whole lot of discretion concerning where these funds are allocated.
All projects also must be publicly advertised, with the assumption that not all will be completed. The outlay projections are a “broad brush” of possible expenditures, he said.
The largest 2012 capital outlay item is a more than $1 million roof replacement to the 100 building at Flagler Palm Coast High School. A $375,000 roof sealant job is also planned for the Flagler Auditorium.
Other 2012 projects are as follows: FPC bathroom renovations ($225,000), bathroom renovations at Old Kings Elementary School ($150,000), gas and water repair in FPC science labs ($65,000) and resealing/repainting of concretable exteriors at Old Kings ($61,000).
“Most of the expenses for capital this year are for debt service and maintenance,” said Mike Judd, Flagler Schools executive; $8.3 million will be spent in 2012 on debt service; $2.8 million is planned for maintenance.
Charter schools funding
Conklin and School Board member John Fischer opposed the motion; they wanted to take a closer look at charter school funding, which was included in the agenda item.
With federal public education funding cuts across the board, Conklin pointed out that the Imagine School at the Town Center is eligible to receive $204,000 of special maintenance funds in 2012, while for the first time in 30 years, Flagler public schools are receiving nothing from the same pot.
“It’s not about bashing charter schools,” Conklin said. “The issue that I have is that corporations are now making money with private tax dollars … Why are taxpayers not … outraged by this?”
According to statute, once a charter school has been in existence for at least three years, it is eligible for state funding. Only if a charter receives an F grade could that funding be denied.
Dickinson was the deciding vote.
“The state says we have to (funnel the funds to charter schools),” she said, “so we’d just prolong the agony.”
Conklin also suggested an enhanced funding focus on school athletics and arts facilities, in light of the recent 45-minute cut in the school day.
“We need to properly invest in it,” she said. “We need to be proactive with coming up with after-school activities for kids.”
School Board member Andy Dance suggested starting work on a facilities plan, to ensure all schools and students have like opportunities.