Following a 15-minute hearing on Tuesday to approve Flagler County schools’ initial property tax and budget for the upcoming fiscal year, it was revealed that $17 million would be embezzled from the district to fund private school vouchers for over 2,000 students. Janie Ruddy, a member of the School Board, spoke briefly about the consequences of the erosion of public funding for public schools.
The board’s chair, Will Furry, responded with a rebuttal defending parental choice and vouchers. The conflict affecting school funding in Flagler County and throughout Florida since 2023 was captured by the two points of view. Private school vouchers for all children, regardless of poverty, were extended by then-Speaker of the House Paul Renner’s effort that year. It was approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor DeSantis.
Both public school enrollment and finance are being progressively undermined by the scheme. This year, the voucher program has transferred $4 billion in public funds to private ownership, including $17 million in Flagler County.
The following statements by Ruddy and Furry are unaltered save for a few minor stylistic changes. Lauren Ramirez, Christy Chong, and Derek Barrs of the School Board said nothing. You can watch the statements on video here or below.
Janie Ruddy’s assertion:
On the surface, it could appear that we taxpayers have won even though our local millage [or property tax rate] has been set at its lowest point in our county’s history. However, the truth is more nuanced and worrisome. We are being pushed to do more with fewer resources, even as our schools deal with rising employer contributions to [the Florida Retirement System], inflationary cost hikes, and the difficulty of educating students across a variety of courses.
Additionally, even if private or homeschooling settings do not offer the same level of accountability or services as public schools, the growth of vouchers now enables families to allocate the same amount of per-student financing to these settings. We must continue to sustain staffing, buildings, and programming for the remaining students while losing financing and economies of scale when public school enrollment drops as a result of the change.
This isn’t more effective. Over time, the cost to the taxpayer actually increases. This scheme, which is promoted as parental choice, uses enormous sums of public funds to support a decision that was never in jeopardy. Private schooling has long been an option for parents, and in more recent decades, homeschooling has also been an option. In the event that a child’s local school failed to satisfy the state’s academic criteria, we have also publicly supported school choice to other public schools.
No government program has ever invested so much in a program to grant an already-existing right.
Another factor to take into account is local control, which is something that many people in my town hold in high regard. We lose the opportunity to customize decisions to meet the requirements of our own community as the state has a larger role in school finance and policy. Instead of directly helping the students and families in Flagler, our local taxes are being dispersed throughout the state to subsidize voucher recipients and private schools in other counties. At the municipal level, this change threatens budgetary accountability and self-governance.
One of the most important public services that our community provides is still public education. I think we can all agree on the ideals of strategic investment in our children, local decision-making, and transparent finance. The future of our entire community is impacted by these developments, not just our schools. And while we manage these important challenges, I implore every citizen—retired or raising a family—to be involved and informed.
A robust public education system gives kids the chance to alter their life’s course, produces a competent labor force that we all depend on, and excellent schools raise property values and lower crime rates. We are all impacted by public education and taxation, yet the state is not allocating funds in a way that aligns with our ideals.
Will Furry’s assertion:
I do want to draw attention to the fact that, while vouchers are on the rise, this essentially indicates that the school choice program is effective for parents, which is something we must take into account. Since parents now have more control over their educational budgets and public schools are no longer the only option, it is our responsibility as an organization to convince parents that we are the best option, if we are.
Additionally, Flagler Schools is an option; we have programs, resources, and wonderful things to provide that private schools and homeschooling simply cannot match. And I believe it’s critical that our organization conveys that information to parents and demonstrates to them that our schools offer full-time, hybrid, and part-time options. Currently, there are various models for how education will develop.
However, a child’s education is no longer determined by their zip code in communities that are having trouble with their schools and educational results. Since even pupils from underprivileged neighborhoods can now attend private schools, I believe this to be the greatest egalitarian endeavor ever made. Therefore, if they had been limited financially, they might not have had that choice. Therefore, the parents decide if that is the best option for them.
However, Flagler has a fantastic organization. Our teachers are outstanding. As time goes on, I think parents will realize that we are the greatest option in Flagler, and we have an incredible leadership team.
