- December 16, 2025
A hearing will take place March 13.
Students and staff from the Heritage Academy charter school filled half a dozen rows in the center of the Flagler Auditorium Tuesday, March 6, to rally support for their school, which the Flagler County School Board voted Jan. 18 to close, citing two consecutive years of failing grades.
“I went to Flagler Palm Coast High School my freshman year, and it didn’t go so well,” Heritage senior Johnathan Costa told the School Board. “When I came here, I found something that I never really found in a public school — and that’s the (relationships).”
“At Heritage, we’re such a close-knit family. The connections we could make with these teachers — it’s crazy!” said senior James Craig Rodger. “I don’t think I could have graduated at any other school.”
A third senior, Navor Padgett, agreed. “If it wasn’t for Heritage Academy, I wouldn’t be graduating this year. I wouldn’t be on my way to college,” he said.
Joey Bagi, who described himself as a straight-A student, described Heritage as his “home away from home.”
Students George Langley, Desiree McDaniel, Skyler Hayes and Daniel Cowert-Goldberg all offered stories about how Heritage had been essential to their success.
Michael Pronsceti, with a soft voice and wild hair, turned at the podium with his hands in his pockets. “I’m not concerned about myself on this day,” he said, pointing to students in the crowd. “I’m more concerned about Skyler Hayes, and Brittany Elizabeth … and everybody else. … It’d be a real shame not to see everyone here being taught ‘the whole student,’ as someone I know would say.”
That someone he knows is Cindy Erickson, dean of students. “It’s acceptance,” she said, in a follow-up interview. “That’s all human nature is: wanting to be accepted.”
If you look at FCAT scores, she added, almost every Heritage student’s scores are on the rise.
“We have one more year,” she said. “We want to see the contract seen to its end.”
Erickson was accompanied by Jason Dalton, second-year history instructor, who said he used to teach in a high-achieving school in California. “But ask me how many students I remember from (there)?” he asked. “None. But I’ll remember these students for as long as I live. … Every one of our students benefits from this school, and by taking this school away, you benefit no one.”
Heritage Academy will be given a hearing before the School Board 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, on the third floor of the Government Services Building.
