- December 23, 2024
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The Flagler County School Board has abandoned its search for a new superintendent.
The board decided the right person to lead the district into the future already had that role. The five board members unanimously voted to remove the interim tag on LaShakia Moore’s title and make her the permanent superintendent.
The unanimity of the board’s decision at a special meeting on Tuesday Sept. 5 was echoed in the board chamber as citizens and district staff broke out into a round of applause. Normally the board frowns on applause during a meeting, but this time it was welcomed.
The meeting, which had been scheduled to finalize approval of the district's millage rate and budget, followed a morning interview session with the board and Moore. Each board member had already interviewed the former assistant superintendent individually.
“I would like to congratulate all of us,” board member Sally Hunt said, “because I think we're the ones who are winning and having her as our leader. So congratulations Flagler Schools for having this tremendous leader now here at the district office. LaShakia, I know you are going to be exactly what we need.”
Moore took over as the interim superintendent on July 1 after the board had voted to let former Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt’s contract run out. The board hired the Florida School Boards Association to assist in a search, with a new superintendent scheduled to be in place by Jan. 1, 2024.
But board members were impressed with Moore’s energy and support from administrators, faculty and staff throughout the district. And they were impressed with how she handled her first crisis in the aftermath of Bunnell Elementary School’s segregated assemblies.
The district is finalizing its investigation of the assemblies that were designed to motivate fourth and fifth grade Black students to raise their scores on statewide assessments.
“I'm super excited about the vote tonight,” Moore said. “But I want you to know that I need each and every one of you in this room, each and every one that is listening or watching (to the live stream of the meeting) as well as those who may not be listening and watching. This is a collective effort. It should be a lot of work and we have a lot of work to do.
“But I look forward to working alongside our community, our stakeholders, our employees and staff and this board to move Flagler Forward," Moore said, employing the district's slogan for the school year.
But immediately after the unanimous vote, the board shifted into a divisive posture. Christy Chong and Hunt asked to review Board Attorney Kristy Gavin’s contract at a Sept. 19 workshop and then place the item on that night’s business meeting for a possible vote. Will Furry agreed, giving them a consensus.
Hunt went on to say that there is “top-down dysfunction” on the board.
"Here’s what I’m going to say: ‘Enough is enough,'” Hunt said, asking for a discussion about the board’s disagreements, which seem to be centered around comments made by Chair Cheryl Massaro and Gavin to news website Flagler Live.
Massaro said she added some of her own thoughts to the board’s approved statement at an Aug. 24 press conference regarding the Bunnell Elementary assemblies, and as a result, Hunt wanted to censure her.
