Flagler Schools, Daytona State urge delegation to back rural education grants and workforce facilities

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Education leaders urged the Flagler County legislative delegation on Feb. 1 to support several education and workforce priorities, including a proposed rural Florida education grant program and capital projects aimed at aerospace training.

Flagler County Schools Superintendent Lashaka Moore thanked the delegation for prior support and described two state‑level priorities the district will pursue. Moore said the district supports a proposed rural Florida initiative (the delegation referenced a $25,000,000 grant program) and requested the delegation’s backing if an education portion of that proposal returns in 2026. She also asked the delegation to seek formula changes so that pre‑kindergarten and adult career‑education students are recognized when the state generates or shares capital outlay dollars; Moore said the current formulas recognize only K‑12 students and that omission places capital needs for pre‑K and the district’s technical college at a disadvantage.

"This is the biggest opportunity for the school district in the 2026 session," Moore said of the rural initiative, adding the district believes its share of a competitive grant could be significant.

Daytona State College President Tom Lobasso outlined multi‑year capital requests tied to aerospace workforce development. He said the college seeks completion funding for an airframe and power‑plant facility (the college reported $12,200,000 remaining on a project for which the college will contribute $2,000,000), a proposed $19,400,000 Center for Aerospace and Advanced Technical Education at the New Smyrna Beach/Edgewater campus (the college reported a $1,000,000 contribution), specialized equipment for that center (about $929,000) and remaining campus safety access control equipment (a $1,300,000 request with a $100,000 college contribution reported).

Why it matters: District and college leaders framed the requests as investments in workforce development and long‑term capital capacity to serve Flagler students and to build a pipeline into aerospace jobs on the Space Coast. Moore emphasized local diploma‑plus initiatives and industry certification pathways, saying one Flagler high school recorded more than 600 industry certifications in a single year.

Looking ahead: Delegation members encouraged clear, phased asks and local matching commitments. Members noted that asking for phased funding — for example, funding a design year before construction — can improve a project’s chances during the budgeting and appropriations process.