Gov. DeSantis fills Flagler School Board vacancy, board to soon operate at full capacity

Daytona Beach News-Journal | By Mary Ellen Ritter | October 30, 2024

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Derek Barrs to the Flagler County School Board Wednesday. He replaces Sally Hunt who resigned in September.

Barrs ran for the District 3 seat in August, but lost to Janie Ruddy by 288 votes.

Barrs, who received DeSantis’ endorsement for the August race, initially ran for school board because he had a strong desire to make a positive impact on Flagler County.

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Derek Barrs to Flagler County School Board after Sally Hunt resigned. Barrs lost to Janie Ruddy in the August primary by 288 votes.

“I’m thankful to be able to serve our community and serve our students,” he said. “And … supporting our teachers and staff members and making our schools the best they can be moving forward.”

Barrs will now take over Hunt’s District 1 seat. Since Hunt did not resign in time for new candidates to qualify for this year’s election, DeSantis was tasked with appointing her replacement.

Barrs is the associate vice president for HNTB Corporation and currently serves as a member of the American Trucking Association Law Enforcement Advisory Board, the Florida Trucking Association and the Flagler Sheriff’s Employee Trust Board of Directors, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“I look forward to serving on the school board and finishing up the term that was vacated and working with our school superintendent and our other school board members to really focus on student achievement and school safety as being the top priorities, just as they were when I was running for school board a few months ago,” Barrs told The News-Journal Wednesday evening.

Chair Will Furry feels confident in the governor’s decision and spoke highly of Barrs.

“He’s an outstanding choice, he’s a man of professionalism, and I think he’ll make a great addition to the Flagler School Board,” Furry said.

Furry also noted that Barrs will be appointed “almost immediately,” most likely before the board’s next meeting.

“I’m very pleased that the governor’s office did make the appointment prior to our reorganization so that we can start off as a full five-member board in the new school board year,” he said.

In a press release sent Wednesday night, Superintendent LaShakia Moore was pleased with Barrs’ appointment, and noted that “his background in public service aligns well with the district’s priorities.”

“We’re looking forward to the experience Mr. Barrs will bring to the board,” Moore said in the release. “His commitment to next generation learning environments and student success is a strong fit with our mission here in Flagler.”

The News-Journal requested the list of applicants from the governor’s office, but has not yet heard back.