- October 6, 2024
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The Flagler County Board of Commissioners and Flagler Schools agreed to enter into negotiations to lease the historic county courthouse in Bunnell to the school district.
A proposed interlocal agreement to lease the nearly 100-year-old building does not yet include a cost for the lease.
“The county just wants to cover their cost,” said Dave Freeman, Flagler Schools’ chief of operations, during a School Board workshop on Aug. 6. Freeman said the previous tenant, First Baptist Christian Academy, paid $8,000 a month in rent.
According to the agreement, the school district would lease the building for two years beginning Sept. 1. The district would have the option to renew the lease for two additional four-year terms. The district would also have the option to purchase the building any time after the initial two-year lease. The purchase price would be the average of two appraisals, with the district and county each hiring an appraiser.
Earlier in the workshop, Kory Bush, the district’s director of plant services, presented the board with the district’s five-year capital plan, which includes $635,000 in the 2024-25 fiscal year for the courthouse renovations.
The county has asked the district to work with the Flagler County Historical Society to provide it with space in the building for exhibits and/or storage. The Historical Society could use the almost 800 square-foot vault on the first floor, Freeman said. Since the building would operate like a school with its safety procedures, the district would probably require people who want to view the historical exhibits to schedule an appointment in advance and undergo a background check, similar to the procedure of visiting the Little Red Schoolhouse on the Bunnell Elementary School campus, Freeman said.
The three-story building would provide space for several district programs including the Rise Up alternative school; iFlagler virtual school, the TRAIL transitional vocation program for 18-22-year-olds with disabilities; Education Foundation Stuff Bus storage; federal programs and Step Up, a life skills education program for adults with special needs.
Moving the programs to the courthouse would free 10 classrooms at Rymfire and Bunnell elementary schools, Freeman said.
Board member Christy Chong said she loves the character of the historic building. Sally Hunt said, “Once filled with Flagler love and Flagler Forward energy, it will be a great space.”
The board is scheduled to vote on a final agreement at its Aug. 20 business meeting.
