- December 15, 2025
In an effort to further cut costs, the School Board agreed May 3 to reduce academic instructional time for middle- and high-school students by 45 minutes a day.
By tightening student time to just over 25 hours of instruction a week, and aligning all teacher planning periods to before and after school, Superintendent Janet Valentine noted that anywhere from 12% to 14% of yearly staff expenditures will be reduced.
In transportation costs alone, she said, $300,000 to $500,000 will also be saved.
But not all Board members were as comfortable with the motion’s implications.
“It’s a statement we’re making to our community,” Colleen Conklin said, suggesting the issue be tabled for further discussion and analysis. It wasn’t.
The motion passed by a vote of three to two.
See the print version of the Palm Coast Observer, Thursday, May 5, for the full story.
