Flagler school board spotlights mentoring, adopts multiple awareness proclamations

The Flagler County School Board on a December meeting adopted a set of proclamations recognizing National Mentoring Month, National Stalking Awareness Month, Human Trafficking Awareness Month and National Special Education Day.

A representative of the Flagler County Education Foundation told the board the local Take Stock in Children affiliate has grown from about "6 to 8 students" in the early 1990s to "over 90 students," and said, "we see clearly and consistently the powerful impact mentoring has on students." The foundation credited donors Peter and Sue Freytag with supporting growth of the program. The foundation representative and board members noted that three students from Flagler have received the Leaders for Life award; the proclamation text cited a $40,000 scholarship connected to that award.

Remy Battles, a Leaders for Life recipient, thanked the board and partners for the opportunity the scholarship provides. The district's presenters encouraged community members to consider becoming mentors and described mentoring programs in Flagler schools across nine (soon to be ten) brick-and-mortar campuses.

The board unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing January as National Stalking Awareness Month; the text cited local partners including Flagler County Advocates Alliance, Flagler County Sheriff's Office victim advocates, Flagler Beach Police Department victim advocates, Seventh Judicial Circuit victim advocates and the Family Life Center and described stalking as a crime across all states and federal jurisdictions.

Separately the board adopted a resolution recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, urging community vigilance and naming the same local victim-service partners. A proclamation recognizing December 2 as National Special Education Day was also read; speakers noted the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and that Flagler Schools provides special education services to 2,448 individuals from newborns through age 22, per the proclamation text.

The proclamations were presented and read aloud by guest speakers and staff; the board adopted each item during the public meeting. The district said the recognitions are intended to raise awareness, recruit mentors, highlight service partners and mark the IDEA anniversary.

The board moved on to other business after the presentations.