- May 7, 2024
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The Flagler Youth Orchestra strings program received its funding for an 18th season. And new student dress codes for elementary and secondary students were approved.
A month ago, both of these Flagler County School Board items seemed cut and dried. But at the July 19 board meeting, the FYO funding seemed controversial, yet it really wasn’t. And the dress code had been discussed, workshopped and advertised for nearly a year, only to be passed under an air of uncertainty.
The board approved the secondary school dress code it had recommended at its June 9 meeting by a 3-2 vote. That came after it had defeated the same motion minutes earlier.
The board passed the dress codes it had advertised over a month ago with one exception. Graphic art on shirts will be allowed for elementary school students, but not for middle and high school students.
The board approved the secondary school dress code it had recommended at its June 9 meeting by a 3-2 vote. That came after it had defeated the same motion minutes earlier.
With 78 comments on the school district’s “Let’s Talk” webpage recommending graphic tees, the board discussed deleting General Rule 3 that states: “No garments shall have graphics, slogans or statements.” That change would have been coupled with banning graphics along with insignias and logos related to “drugs, alcohol, violence, gangs, weapons, (and) sexually suggestive or offensive topics deemed inappropriate by administration.”
Board member Jill Woolbright said the deans, who enforce the dress code, would be forced to decide what’s inappropriate and made a motion to keep the secondary school dress code as presented with no graphics allowed. Board Chair Trevor Tucker, who was not in favor of changing the dress code used this past school year, voted against the motion along with Colleen Conklin and Janet McDonald.
After further discussion and another failed motion, McDonald suggested to give the dress code as presented a year and see how the deans feel about enforcement. With McDonald changing her vote, the motion passed.
With elementary school parents generally in favor of T-shirts with cartoon designs, the board voted unanimously to delete General Rule 3, allowing graphics. The board also passed the elementary and secondary Code of Student Conduct.
The meeting opened with passionate pleas for the board to approve funding the FYO strings program $70,000, which would cover most of the $87,585 to pay the salaries of program director Cheryl Tristam and six music instructors.
Nineteen people spoke on behalf of the program. Among them were current and former students in the program, parents, music instructors and Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston, who said there are tip jars for the FYO on the counter at the tax collector's office.
At the July 5 School Board workshop, Tristam estimate that 3,000 to 3,500 students participated in the program during the past 17 years.
“I’m glad you came out tonight. I’m sorry you felt you had to.”
— JILL WOOLBRIGHT to Flagler Youth Orchestra supporters
The show of support was organized after McDonald sounded like she was not in favor of funding the after-school program for another year.
At the workshop, McDonald said, “My real concern is we don’t have equity in the budget with this. I don’t know any other outside program that gets special compensation in not only salaries and transportation but the use of facilities at no cost. … Our kids (during the school day) do not get music all the time, and do not get movement all the time and art all the time. They have to separate and take turns having that exposure. So, if we can’t support access during our day program, how can we say we can invest in this over and over?”
But the funding passed with the consent agenda, 5-0, and McDonald said her workshop comments were misconstrued on social media.
“I was not intending anything to happen to the Flagler Youth Orchestra,” she said. “I’ve supported (the FYO) every year.”
She said she would like to see more opportunities for students to get music and art education during the school day.
“A lot of kids don’t have these advantages. A lot of kids don’t have the spark in their lives.”
Woolbright, who had said at the workshop, “Just because we’ve done something for 17 years, doesn’t mean we don’t change,” said at the business meeting that she was very thankful to hear the testimony of the FYO supporters.
“I’m glad you came out tonight. I’m sorry you felt you had to,” she said. “I get comments about disparity of how we fund after-school programs, (but) this board member was never going to defund.”
Conklin and Cheryl Massaro suggested that the board come up with a multi-year agreement next year, so they don’t have to debate the issue again.
