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Flagler Schools and Flagler Auditorium Governing Board formalize relationship in draft MOU
Summary
Representatives of the Flagler Auditorium Governing Board and Flagler County School District staff presented a draft memorandum of understanding on Nov. 4 to formalize a longstanding partnership and clarify roles, finances and statutory safeguards.
Representatives of the Flagler Auditorium Governing Board and Flagler County School District staff presented a draft memorandum of understanding to the school board on Nov. 4 to formalize a long‑standing relationship between the district and the auditorium’s nonprofit governing board.
Cathy Wood (treasurer) and Sandy Shepatowski (president of the Flagler Auditorium Governing Board) described the governing board’s role in programming and fundraising. District staff and board members said the MOU clarifies longstanding informal practices—calendar priority for Flagler Schools’ arts education events, the auditing and conflict‑of‑interest procedures expected by statute, and the stewardship of capital improvements.
Speakers emphasized that the auditorium functions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises revenues to support arts scholarships, grants and facility needs; the governing board noted that revenues are used to support arts education and that capital improvements funded by the board become district property. The district confirmed that auditorium staff are Flagler Schools employees paid through the district’s budget; the governing board explained that its nonprofit status allows the organization to pursue state grants and other revenue streams that the district could not access directly. The governing board reported a recent state grant award of roughly $70,000.
Board members asked for clarity about the Flagler Youth Symphony Orchestra (FYSO) and its funding. Staff explained that FYSO has historically operated under a different structure: it is managed through district programming, raises funds through ticket sales and concessions, and in prior years the district has subsidized the program (staff cited district support of about $78,000 historically). For the 2024‑25 year the youth orchestra used about $12,000 from internal accounts to balance costs, and the 2025‑26 projection discussed at the workshop was about $17,000 of additional need.
Board members were invited to propose edits; staff said the MOU would be returned to the board for formal approval after any requested changes. No final vote on the MOU occurred at the workshop.
