- December 9, 2024
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Three new Flagler County School Board members took their oaths of office and then took their seats on the dais at the board’s Nov. 19 business meeting. Derek Barrs, Lauren Ramirez and Janie Ruddy were sworn in by Flagler County Judge Melissa Distler.
Ramirez and Ruddy were elected in the Aug. 20 Primary Election. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Barrs to the board on Oct. 30 to complete Sally Hunt’s term. Hunt resigned on Sept. 20.
Barrs ran for the board’s District 3 seat, vacated by the retiring Colleen Conklin, but lost to Ruddy by just 290 votes in a race in which 24,812 ballots were cast.
The new board's first order of business was to elect a chair and vice chair. Will Furry will continue to serve as the board’s chair for a second year, while Christy Chong will serve as vice chair for a second year.
Chong nominated Furry to chair the board again, and with no other nominations, he was elected unanimously.
Furry then nominated Chong to be vice chair, while Ruddy nominated herself. Chong was elected by a 3-2 vote with Ruddy and Ramirez voting for Ruddy, and Barrs, Chong and Furry voting for Chong.