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Flagler County School Board approves Policy 9700 on classroom materials after divided vote
Summary
After debate over potential policing of classrooms and overlap with state law, the Flagler County School Board voted to approve additions to Policy 9700 regulating classroom materials; board members clashed over whether the language simply restates Florida statute 1013.10 or creates new restrictions.
The Flagler County School Board approved additions to Policy 9700, governing classroom materials and restrictions on personal advocacy or ideological, political or religious displays, at its Oct. 28, 2025 meeting after a contested vote.
Board members debated whether the policy would create new limits on classroom expression or merely clarify existing statutory requirements. One board member cautioned that the policy could "sow potentially distrust between teachers and parents" and might clash with teachers' professional evaluations and First Amendment considerations. Another member told the board that, after consulting district attorneys and staff, the proposed wording is a restatement of Florida Statute 1013.10 and would not establish new rules beyond state law.
The motion to approve Policy 9700 was moved by Miss Chong and seconded by Miss Ramirez. The board chair called the vote after discussion; the chair announced the motion passed with a tally stated as "3 2 1." The transcript does not record a roll-call matching individual names to each yes/no/abstain on that motion.
Board members who spoke during the discussion raised several recurring concerns: how broadly terms such as "neutral" or "personal advocacy" would be interpreted; whether commonplace classroom displays (for example, multilingual welcome signs or materials tied to cultural heritage months) might be called into question; and whether the policy risked creating a policing relationship between parents and teachers rather than relying on established review processes and staff oversight.
Supporters of the policy said clarifying language can set clear expectations for staff and explicitly reflect existing statutory obligations. A board member who researched the measure with district counsel reported that the language aligns with Florida Statute 1013.10, calling the addition a more detailed restatement rather than a new restriction.
Outcome and next steps: The board approved Policy 9700. The motion record on the public transcript lists the motion, mover, second and the announced tally; no additional implementation dates or sunset provisions were stated during the meeting.
