Board delays decision on outside summer literacy program after members request curriculum, outcomes and references

A nonprofit called Catalyst asked the Flagler County School Board to add the organization to the district’s waived use‑of‑facilities list so it could run a summer academy at a district school. Catalyst representatives described a multi‑week program formerly run in Volusia County that focuses on literacy, mentoring and student engagement and said the program has multi‑year experience and community partners.

Board members and district staff raised procedural and programmatic questions: whether the proposed activities meet district review standards for curriculum and student protection, what measurable outcomes the program tracks (graduation, reading progress or attendance), how applicants are selected, expected staffing and background checks, insurance coverage, custodial/overtime cost treatment, and whether use of facilities waivers would set a precedent for other community providers.

Catalyst staff said the program is volunteer‑ and donor‑funded, uses college‑age and a small number of older youth staff supervised by a site director, carries insurance and reported graduation and positive outcomes from prior cohorts in their own reporting. District staff noted that use‑of‑facilities waivers typically cover the facility fee but not overtime custodial costs and that a formal curriculum and references would be needed for the board to finish vetting the request.

After discussion the board asked Catalyst to supply curriculum or weekly plans, references from prior school partners, and data the nonprofit holds on outcomes; district staff will accept and circulate those documents for board review. The board withdrew the item from immediate consideration and directed staff to reintroduce the request only after those materials are provided and reviewed; no waiver or approval was granted at the April 8 meeting.