Will Furry, the current District 2 representative on the Flagler County School Board, is running for a second term. In a recent interview, he discussed his record over the past four years and his views on issues facing the district.
Background and First-Term Record
Furry said he has lived in Flagler County since 2013 and has two children who have attended Flagler schools since kindergarten, now enrolled at Matanzas High School. A former banking and finance executive, he has served on the school board for four years, including two terms as chair.
Furry pointed to several accomplishments from his first term, including the appointment of Superintendent LaShakia Moore, the district’s return to an “A” grade this year, and what he described as year-over-year academic gains during his tenure. He said the board also worked to rebuild the district’s financial reserves, which he said had fallen to about $3 million under the previous administration, back up to $11 million, ending a practice of the district borrowing money to make payroll. He said that borrowing had previously cost the district six-figure sums in interest annually, and that the district has not paid any such interest since he took office.
He also cited the addition of a new carpentry shop and entrepreneurial lab space at Matanzas High School and said 65% of the 2026 graduating class earned an industry certification, dual enrollment credit, or Advanced Placement credit, up from 43% the previous year, which he attributed to the district’s “Diploma Plus” initiative.
Kindergarten Readiness and VPK Transportation
Furry identified kindergarten readiness as a major challenge, saying many children are arriving unprepared for school, which he described as a community-wide issue rather than one confined to the school system. He said the district has expanded its Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program enrollment by 100 students, to 300, and recently added certified teachers to VPK classrooms to help students reach grade-level reading benchmarks by third grade.
On transportation challenges affecting VPK access, Furry said the district has updated its bus fleet, replacing vehicles more than 20 years old that required costly maintenance, and expects to pay off the new fleet within about a year and a half. He said the state does not fund transportation for VPK students and only funds about half the cost of transporting students who are counted, requiring the district to cover the gap through its general fund. He said he plans to continue lobbying state lawmakers, including Rep. Sam Greco and Sen. Leek, for additional funding.
Budget and School Choice
Furry said his approach to the district budget involves closely monitoring spending, citing a bond refinancing that saved the district $600,000 and coming in under budget on capital projects. He said public schools must now compete for enrollment given the availability of school choice options, and said he believes Flagler Schools should aim to be families’ preferred option through its programs and staff.
Asked about the state’s school voucher program and accountability for how private school and homeschool families use those funds, Furry said homeschooling and public schooling are not directly comparable, since parents choose homeschooling for varied personal reasons. He said there should be accountability for how voucher funds are spent when it comes to private schools, but said the district should not create additional barriers for parents. He said only around 300 of the district’s roughly 13,000 students have left for private schools using vouchers since the program began, a figure he described as small compared to enrollment losses in some other counties. He also said the district has introduced hybrid schooling options for families who choose homeschooling but want partial in-school instruction.
Teacher Retention
On teacher retention, a challenge nationally and statewide, Furry said the issue has improved significantly since he was elected, crediting Superintendent Moore’s leadership for changing the district’s workplace culture. He said teachers need to feel supported and safe to remain in the profession long-term.
School Safety and Bullying
Furry said school safety includes emotional security and said the district maintains a zero-tolerance policy on bullying, with a progressive discipline plan and the possibility of expulsion for students who cannot meet behavioral expectations. He said bullying can be reported anonymously online or directly to school staff, though he acknowledged that not all incidents are reported.
Furry shared a personal experience that he said motivated him to run for school board originally, saying his son was held down by two peers on a school bus in elementary school and had his face marked with a marker. “As long as Will Furry’s on the dais, I will protect their children from bullies and any other threat,” he said.
Career and Technical Education
Furry said the district offers a robust career and technical education program and wants to continue expanding offerings based on both student interest and local workforce demand. He pointed to the district’s Fire Academy and two commercial kitchen programs, at Matanzas High School and Flagler Palm Coast High School, as examples of popular programs preparing students for the hospitality industry.
Planning for Growth
Asked how the school board is preparing for population growth expected in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Flagler Beach over the next decade, Furry said the board does not have authority over whether developments are approved, but is responsible for ensuring enough student capacity exists when new residents arrive. He said the district collects impact fees from developers to fund future schools and continuously monitors student generation rates, though state law only allows the district to plan based on already-approved development, not future projects. He said current projections show a slight enrollment decline over the next decade due to regional demographics and birth rates, but said the district has a plan in place to accommodate students as needed.
School Board Properties
On public interest in school district-owned properties, Furry said the district holds several parcels for potential future school construction, but acknowledged some sites are not adequately sized or located to support a modern school under current building standards. He said the board should consider selling properties that clearly have no future use for the district. He noted that proceeds from property sales are restricted to capital projects, such as facility improvements or future school construction, and cannot be used for other purposes such as teacher salaries.
Transparency
Furry said he believes the school board operates transparently, noting that all board meetings are recorded and made public, along with supporting documents available through the district’s online board records system. He acknowledged the board sometimes has disagreements, but said achieving an “A” district grade reflects a functioning board overall. He said his approach to every vote is to ask whether a decision is in the best interest of students.
Closing Pitch to Voters
Asked why voters should choose him for a second term, Furry pointed to his experience and institutional knowledge as one of the more senior members on a relatively young board, along with his personal investment as a parent of two children currently in the district. He noted that school board members are now subject to term limits, meaning this would be his final term if reelected, and said he believes he has delivered on his previous campaign promises.
The post Incumbent Will Furry Seeks Second Term on Flagler County School Board first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
