[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6388201,"mediaKeyId","2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02","parentId",2115164,"title","Public commenters urge inclusive language in media-selection policy review, raise staffing and conduct complaints","audioSeconds",293,"startMs",5991000,"endMs",6284000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02&start=5991&end=6284","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02/thumbnail_5991000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6388201/Florida/Public-commenters-urge-inclusive-language-in-media-selection-policy-review-raise-staffing-and-conduct-complaints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388201-da0592d14f6a792ae435ab09b2f8e3b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775730375&Signature=j2KIIbhR~~3oPWTnpQH1fEdfILlQgYDK7IQbloF4svHqqlK64SSHvfJACc2L7LJmnywdTUjG91sxr3LIHPbVjbBBj7YAwB8J8CEq5v6SU1Cdkz6NWqL8x9chnJeEj0u~PZBR93UHFnZduQ7lvhc0Tf6t8hgyOCsVOMDDeXs1QRVjPkV7H9jLiflOcwGiN9NuLyxLy6XAkyx~nQzRTT5K32qCrnhLXMu0FI1StHfkPBWEdFbwzjL8RLNNITHs3RmEGqDdXYD4IzDKUw0aQAUJKm40egJfH-DgTSNuKWS9dBnq6xx6en-h6nqiaYG9gA2g~5gt8QGa9U6Jui1Me-Z-Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Volusia County School Board","date","2025-01-15T12:26:53Z","article","Several members of the public addressed the Volusia County School Board during the Jan. 14 meeting, urging the board to revisit the proposed School Board Policy 320 with inclusive language and robust safeguards and raising separate concerns about school staff and student conduct.

Christine Sirier told the board she was glad item 19.01 was pulled and asked that the revised policy use inclusive language and include safeguards to prevent abuse of the review process. \"Please prioritize inclusive language. Make sure there's safeguards in place to prevent potential abuse of the system,\" she said during public comment.

Jean Miley, speaking near the start of public comment, said she was speaking on behalf of \"Miss Jessie\" and defended how a school employee addressed student behavior; Miley described her own background as a long-time school bus attendant and urged compassion in evaluating staff conduct.

Other speakers raised grievances. Cathy Knowles, a former cafeteria manager, thanked the board for recent raises for transportation staff and urged similar attention for Schoolway Cafe employees, saying the operation has not seen comparable raises. Heather Bendel described a workplace dispute at New Smyrna Beach Middle School, alleging that a principal mistreated her and that she had not received a district response to her emails; she said her children were also struggling and expressed frustration with a lack of follow-up.

Jennifer Kelly criticized School Board member Jessie Thompson for remarks Kelly said Thompson made at a national Moms for Liberty event. Kelly said she believed Thompson had lied at a prior local meeting and called on Thompson to resign from the board. Kelly said she would pursue removal by the governor or a recall process if Thompson did not step down; she listed statutory grounds that she said supported removal and urged immediate action.

All remarks during public comment were presented as the speakers' statements. The board did not take immediate action on the allegations made during the public comment period; some matters raised — including the superintendent's earlier request to pull Policy 320 — were already in the board's agenda for further review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Volusia County School Board - The Volusia County School Regular Session 01/14/2025","oneSentenceSummary","During the Jan. 14 public-comment period speakers urged the board to prioritize inclusive language and safeguards as it reconsiders Policy 320, defended and criticized district employees, and alleged workplace and student-behavior problems at specific schools; one commenter called for a board member’s resignation and threatened recall.","taxTitle","Volusia, School Districts, Florida","taxId",13116,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6388207,"Daytona Regional Chamber and partners launch 'Readers to Leaders' literacy outreach in Volusia County",675,6799000,7474000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02&start=6799&end=7474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02/thumbnail_6799000.jpg","/articles/6388207/Florida/Daytona-Regional-Chamber-and-partners-launch-Readers-to-Leaders-literacy-outreach-in-Volusia-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388207-822bbb76cd434ea53dc0c2bedf6a8ede/orig.mp4?Expires=1775730375&Signature=R9ET5Pbkvb5pBqsEy6BKo3-MynkxilbN4QgtO6eZ8ylH37lxd1eKUCr7tq7ANuvd1W5258MDDAOvbM2kfph87uWdAkThyj0yePFhbqd-s32Qxs4MKlrvmXcc3hLFNtW7VCzPWf~TrCu~UHUuBc6Ts3PUSvi7POSieBQ4Hb8XdYDPxoNSQVdoYwY9YUkxXPekTU9lurecu2VzgdPxiSaLucMpRofsJnMFUgwF3cmqs9yTb3vu5cMyES0FIKykLLonAvKe6qj7WcWh3rQ2f8GoGH~I7zvgXJ2XEyTIinEQ~4dbfam72fiOkvtOM6kiTkDUtiem5bg0kOVM1h3WKQSg2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A new community campaign called \"Readers to Leaders\" was introduced to the Volusia County School Board on Jan. 14 by members of the Daytona Regional Chamber, the Early Learning Coalition and business partners. The initiative aims to centralize and promote local early-literacy resources and to recruit business volunteers and donors.

Presenters from Leadership Daytona Class 43 said their goal is to connect existing programs — including the Early Learning Coalition’s supports, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and local volunteer reading opportunities — so community members and companies can easily identify where to contribute time, talent or money. \"There are a ton of great resources in our community that are already out there. As business partners, we think it's our role to be the bridge and connect resources,\" Devin Miller said.

Michelle Goldens and Daytona Regional Chamber representatives said the campaign will maintain a digital brochure (with a QR code) that the community can update in real time, and the Chamber will not request district funding. The brochure will indicate for each program whether the need is volunteer time, specific professional skills or financial support.

Speakers highlighted the Dolly Parton Imagination Library as a model program that delivers books to young children but said sponsorship costs have risen. \"The cost used to be about $30 per child; it has increased to about $40,\" a presenter said, noting local fundraising supports continued participation. Presenters said Brown & Brown Insurance was matching donations during the rollout, and the Early Learning Coalition had seen a jump in volunteer inquiries after the outreach began.

Board members welcomed the campaign and asked how they could help; presenters asked the board to spread the word and share the digital brochure. The district said it will work with partners to promote the initiative on district channels.

The project organizers said the immediate aim is awareness and coordination — not creating a new program — and they encouraged businesses to consider small commitments of volunteer time or sponsorship to support early literacy across the county.","Community partners led by the Daytona Regional Chamber on Jan. 14 introduced 'Readers to Leaders,' a campaign to centralize local early-literacy resources and recruit business partners to support programs such as Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and volunteer reading initiatives.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6388212,"Superintendent cites rise in graduation rate, highlights AI reading tool and community partnerships",737,1952000,2689000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02&start=1952&end=2689","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02/thumbnail_1952000.jpg","/articles/6388212/Florida/Superintendent-cites-rise-in-graduation-rate-highlights-AI-reading-tool-and-community-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388212-16c69bd6d8a17128c124c28beb94cd5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775730375&Signature=LS31eWBeB7nW6m-5ASJyxIINLeK974bFHLnHMDNJzmg20Farxh6RMU24e0AxDtROglnSeq2A4GBDoAzPvZ4SK~dxfnERI4FE-u5sVH9LXHSe-iAIIlwS53yGbwGpMdiZ0srTIASscGLF-6ZgbX~NdnONj5f8TGDrVStIgnJCRTxc6m3NCOQdHmW-go-nU6ix8mECW2RNBRwfOWO97IThxOCnHcS9NJSHr~pj1iKIeMg5GDHzrcqCaBur8Eqs8HDLxOty6KrMde0ZAOzTcvE02wVtaaVRMviVJZpAMa8w6T-otkHz54iqZ4mWSGGi7vx39y5K32PjIwk5ci76eB0DSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Volusia County Public Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin on Jan. 14 told the school board the district's 2023–24 graduation rate rose to 93.7 percent from 91.6 the prior year and that nine of the district's 10 traditional high schools showed year-over-year increases.

\"Volusia County has seen an impressive 93.7 percent on our grad rate, which is an increase from 91.6 the previous year,\" Balgobin said during her report. She named several high schools and the changes in their graduation rates, including Atlantic High (up to 96.5%), DeLand High (96.5%), Deltona High (100%), Mainland High (94.8%), New Smyrna Beach High (97.2%), Pine Ridge High (97.8%), and University High (96%). She noted minor declines at Spruce Creek and a small change at Taylor Middle–High.

Balgobin credited the increase to a districtwide effort from pre-K through grade 12 and said a fuller presentation on graduation requirements and district monitoring systems will be presented at a future meeting.

The superintendent also described classroom work using an AI-based reading tool called Reading Progress. A short video shown to the board demonstrated the program recording a student's reading, providing real-time feedback on mispronounced words, breaking words into syllables, offering pronunciation and nonlinguistic supports, and giving teachers options to add comprehension questions. \"We're using the AI to create a culture of students who want to be here, who want to learn, and giving them tools to enhance that process,\" she said.

Balgobin announced community partnerships and donations: AdventHealth provided 168 bicycles and — she said — matching helmets and locks for students to support attendance initiatives. She also thanked the Futures Foundation and other community partners for sponsoring teacher recognition events and said the district had seen a 5 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism in the first semester compared with its goal to reduce absenteeism by 10%.

She acknowledged the district's AI policy and said principals have been preparing implementation plans to ensure that classroom use of AI aligns with district policy. Balgobin concluded by noting upcoming events including school-choice fairs and literacy week.

The superintendent's remarks combined outcome data, program pilots and community partnership announcements; she said further details and metrics will be presented at later meetings.","Superintendent Carmen Balgobin told the Volusia County School Board on Jan. 14 the district's 2023–24 graduation rate rose to 93.7 percent from 91.6, described a Reading Progress AI tool piloted in elementary classrooms, and noted community donations including 168 bicycles and safety gear from AdventHealth.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6388216,"Volusia County School Board approves consent agenda, confirms administrators, rejects milk bid; Policy 320 pulled for further review",3081,1821000,4902000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02&start=1821&end=4902","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2115164-c7cd64b74399e4f33c091b5e6efdde02/thumbnail_1821000.jpg","/articles/6388216/Florida/Volusia-County-School-Board-approves-consent-agenda-confirms-administrators-rejects-milk-bid-Policy-320-pulled-for-further-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388216-847c9dc9e0bf01167c47226bce6bb7dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775730375&Signature=dEoa0Oc6DzE6DWj4qcvPFmokMVWO-PKSqqigFDsw8Bt9hokxSIANuHxb19exYiKBzcMQfD4JosUP8pxSfvbS2El9OAlCuWEp-8t-7E57WaQuw7twL8kVz~XJXtsrNbNK4OMvk~wtXZ8KUov89Kct5s1bHHHi0TTbxVm72PFXbEQnQ-uRQ~juL7bO0FkUGs9gWgh5hiz8FjSP2ei1G0qkVP3b5ilA-70-d~XkZWh3hjgKiizBVfBhpa9D14dWWGUNPNXLxpMQLpy-SPacyqenTgHkwjBDiLzIr4CVXFVPvjx001Ld71mZXnnjlsUK7up1U-OaFso9ExXgzO9op2iNDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Volusia County School Board on Jan. 14 approved its consent agenda, confirmed three administrative appointments and two assistant-principal transfers, rejected a direct-delivery bid for milk and dairy products and approved a piggyback contract for those products — and agreed to pull School Board Policy 320 for additional review, the superintendent told the board.

The superintendent, Dr. Carmen Balgobin, asked the board to remove item 19.01, \"School Board Policy 320, media selection of print and nonprint materials,\" to allow staff to review additional information before any action. The board voted to approve the agenda with that item removed.

The board unanimously approved minutes for the special session, workshop and regular session of Dec. 10, 2024. Board members later voted to reject a bid for direct delivery of milk, juice and dairy products (item 11.01). Board member Christa Goodrich recused herself from votes related to the milk/dairy procurement; the rejection passed 4–0 with the recusal noted. The board then approved a piggyback contract for milk and dairy products (item 11.02) by the same margin with Goodrich recused.

Superintendent Balgobin recommended and the board confirmed three administrative appointments: Benjamin Carter as manager of professional standards (effective Jan. 15, 2025), Charles Bennett as assistant principal at Turie T. Small Elementary (effective Jan. 21, 2025) and Ronald Washington as assistant principal at Campbell Middle School (effective Jan. 15, 2025). Each appointment was moved and seconded and passed by unanimous vote when presented.

Board members also approved two assistant-principal transfers presented by the district's executive director of human resources, Stephanie Workman: Buffy Snipes to Sugar Mill Elementary and Shannon Van Slyke to Discovery Elementary, both effective Jan. 21.

The remainder of the consent agenda — after the separate votes on the milk/dairy items — passed as presented. The board also approved its 2025 board-member travel plan and other routine items in the consent packet.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of Dec. 10 minutes: motion to approve carried; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Agenda approval with removal of item 19.01 (Policy 320): outcome: approved unanimously.
- Pull/withdrawal of item 19.01 requested by Superintendent Carmen Balgobin for further review: action taken; item removed from the agenda and will return at a later meeting.
- Bid rejection, item 11.01 (direct delivery: milk, juice and dairy products): outcome: rejected, vote recorded as 4–0 with board member Christa Goodrich recused.
- Piggyback contract, item 11.02 (milk and dairy products): outcome: approved, vote recorded as 4–0 with board member Goodrich recused.
- Administrative appointments: Benjamin Carter (Manager, Professional Standards), Charles Bennett (Assistant Principal, Turie T. Small Elementary), Ronald Washington (Assistant Principal, Campbell Middle School): outcomes: approved unanimously.
- Assistant-principal transfers: Buffy Snipes to Sugar Mill Elementary and Shannon Van Slyke to Discovery Elementary: outcomes: approved.
- Consent agenda (remaining items, after separate votes on 11.01 and 11.02): approved unanimously.
- Board travel confirmations for 2025: approved unanimously.

Board members conducted the votes during the regular meeting; where recorded, motions and seconds were voiced on the record and the chair called for voice votes. Several items were carried unanimously; the milk/dairy procurement items included a recorded recusal by board member Christa Goodrich.","On Jan. 14 the Volusia County School Board approved its consent agenda, confirmed three administrative hires and transfers, voted to reject a milk-and-dairy bid and to accept a piggyback contract, and agreed to pull proposed School Board Policy 320 for additional review at the superintendent's request.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters urge inclusive language in media-selection policy review, raise staffing and conduct complaints

Daytona Regional Chamber and partners launch 'Readers to Leaders' literacy outreach in Volusia County

Superintendent cites rise in graduation rate, highlights AI reading tool and community partnerships

Volusia County School Board approves consent agenda, confirms administrators, rejects milk bid; Policy 320 pulled for further review