Community group asks Flagler School Board to consider free facility use for six-week "Catalyst" summer literacy program

Cheryl Massaro, a former Flagler County School Board member, urged the board during public comment March 25 to consider allowing a community organization called Catalyst free use of five classrooms at Belterra Elementary for a six‑week summer literacy program aimed at struggling readers in grades 5–9.

Massaro said the program is designed to boost literacy and leadership skills. “It’s a six‑week program. It is free to lower‑scale readers. They get six and a half hours, they get breakfast, they get lunch, they get a field trip every week,” Massaro said. She told the board Catalyst has operated similar programs in Volusia County high schools and contends it raises reading scores.

The program leaders, Massaro said, would cover staffing and fundraising; the district’s role would be limited to providing cleared space and, if approved, district bus transportation at the school rate. Massaro said Catalyst requests use of five classrooms at Belterra Elementary and that without free space the program could not proceed in Flagler County.

Superintendent Moore told the board staff has the initial request and the contact information and that further vetting would be done before the board is asked to make a formal decision. Moore said staff does not yet have full details about the program’s funding sources and can request those from the organizers. “We can provide you with the contact information for Ms. Massaro and for Ms. Benzo so you can ask whatever questions you have,” Moore said.

Board members asked procedural and vetting questions during the workshop. One member asked whether Catalyst had any political or religious affiliation; staff said they did not have that information on hand and would request it from the group. The board did not take a formal vote that day; instead members directed staff to place the request on a future agenda for formal consideration of a use‑of‑facilities waiver and additional information from the program’s organizers. The superintendent identified Dr. O’Brien as an internal contact for board members with follow‑up questions.

Background provided by Massaro and staff at the workshop: Catalyst leaders say the program is grant‑ and donation‑funded (Massaro said AdventHealth has been a major supporter in other counties), hires and clears its own staff with the district’s background checks, and asks only to use district facilities and buses at the district rate. Specific grant sources and the program’s budget were not specified in the materials presented at the workshop; board members requested those details before the board considers a waiver of facility fees.

Next steps: Staff will place the Catalyst request on a future board meeting agenda with the program’s proposal, vetting information, and recommended facility‑use terms so the full board can vote on whether to add Catalyst to the district’s list of organizations granted free use of school facilities.