- November 1, 2024
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Flagler Schools will enact a state-mandated policy designed to guarantee freedom of religions expression in schools.
The district will be adopting the Department of Education’s wording verbatim, School Board Attorney Kristy Gavin told School Board members at their Nov. 13 workshop.
The policy states that students shall not be penalized for expressing religious ideas in classwork and homework, shall be allowed to engage in religious activity and expression to the same extent that they may engage in secular activity and expression, and shall not be penalized for wearing religious clothing or jewelry.
The district also may not bar school staff from taking part in voluntary religious activities on school grounds when those activities are initiated by students and do not conflict with the staff member’s responsibilities.
Students may organize religious groups and gatherings to the same extent and in the same manner as they may organize secular ones.
“This can actually mean if somebody is Wiccan, they have the ability to pray,” School Board member Colleen Conklin said at the workshop. “This is any religion.”
Flagler Palm Coast’s High School’s Fire Leadership Academy students and students at Flagler Technical Institute will gain opportunities to pursue Emergency Medical Technician certification and conduct ambulance ride-alongs under new agreements involving Flagler Schools, Flagler Technical Institute and Flagler County Fire Rescue.
“They must have five rides that include an emergency rescue,” said Dr. Kristin McCabe-Kline, who will be the FTI EMT program’s EMS medical director. “So they may go 20 or 30 times before they get their five.”
