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Flagler Palm Coast freshman K'imani Gervin-McCoy sings the national anthem before the Jan. 23 Flagler County School Board meeting. Gervin-McCoy had sang the national anthem at the opening session of the Florida Legislature on Jan. 9. Photo by Brent Woronoff
After singing the national anthem at the Jan. 23 School Board meeting, FPC freshman K'imani Gervin-McCoy sang Happy Birthday to Superintendent LaShakia Moore, whose birthday was Jan. 22. Photo by Brent Woronoff
LaShakia Moore applauds K'imani Gervin-McCoy after the Flagler Palm Coast High School freshman sang Happy Birthday to Flagler Schools' superintendent. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Flagler County School Board will send an interlocal agreement for the Carver Community Center back to the working group for the second time. This time, board members hope their changes will appease community members who are upset over portions of the agreement.
Community members have complained about the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s role. The ILA includes the FCSO and the city of Bunnell, along with the county commission and the School Board.
According to the agreement, the FCSO, the School Board and Bunnell will each provide $10,000 annually, while the county will continue to pay most of the Carver Center’s expenses, contributing nearly $163,000 annually.
The FCSO’s Police Athletic League will be provided space in the facility that includes two offices, a video room and a boxing room/lounge.
Some community members say PAL is taking an outsized role, indicating it will charge fees, limit free gym time and take away a basketball league day.
Based on suggestions by board members Colleen Conklin and Cheryl Massaro and the district’s human resources and benefits supervisor, Joshua Walker, the board agreed to two changes to the agreement.
Where the agreement says “semi-annually School Board and FCSO will develop a schedule for the following semester,” the board would add that the two entities would develop a schedule “in collaboration.”
And where its says, “The establishment of fees for events or use of the Carver Center will require approval of the Board of County Commissioners…” the School Board would change to “the establishment of facility fees for events…” That section goes on to say the School Board and Carver Advisory Committee would provide input.
FCSO Division Chief David Williams said fees are necessary to help pay for program costs, but there will be scholarships and no child will be turned away.
PAL’s programs will take away open gym time but will extend the gym’s hours, closing at 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. to make up that time.
The district will give the altered agreement to the ILA working group for all parties to finally agree. Conklin said what’s important is to be clear that School Board would still have overall control of the center.
“It’s a big change for us and a big change for community, but the county is contributing $160,000 so this facility can stay open,” Conklin said. “I can’t believe they’re going to set fees to prevent use by members of the community. If control of the facility is clear all the rest will be worked out. There is history in that community and there is a question of trust. All we can do is try to build that trust. So if there are promises made, promises have to be kept. The history in that community is that promises have been made, and some have not been kept.”
