[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,76,88,99],{"_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",6263093,"mediaKeyId","3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f","parentId",3108079,"title","Teachers, advocates press board on cuts and Legacy Scholars transition; district pledges support for affected students","audioSeconds",370,"startMs",3385000,"endMs",3755000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f&start=3385&end=3755","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f/thumbnail_3385000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6263093/Florida/Teachers-advocates-press-board-on-cuts-and-Legacy-Scholars-transition-district-pledges-support-for-affected-students","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263093-604c51e0f7b6d43da78440211fc756df/orig.mp4?Expires=1770482063&Signature=QgGzFlSZdnUoS40rVfe~v9cJlvsi4qatA06WCuibk8XWKgGZMiFimLIKr7inh3qZcsc4napP4GYk8OFIph~EW-qCFr~K1tgKfQPaGah7wE8ZSar7z3se5Zyt7hNn4pdeji7IyqZOFGGIByPIwYKA1w1V2IO~Xq5DQsoy4QNxakJBoCTGC0pUfY-~jqZIzH9HnU526JWhILC9heCSxV1fVWqNaALYLpFyrJLIJ2YH~b~ipTaoxizGxB6UzHWwteGppeWntTCNPcR6VclOwQs~fD0OWNyjVoKSI~NL0fRV11--y72MlyoVmjQfaSdm5LuX9x4y3rmpSwpKLSjFWHzjAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Volusia County School Board","date","2025-04-24T08:39:56.98Z","article","Multiple speakers used the April 22 public‑comment period to press the Volusia County School Board for transparency about budget cuts and to plead for preservation of classroom and ESE positions.

Laura Bouchard, a teacher and union steward at Taylor Middle‑High School, told the board she was \"concerned that once again, the district is talking about budget shortfalls\" and that instructional and support positions were vulnerable. \"It seems anytime there is a budget shortfall, teachers are always the first to go, which hurts the students,\" Bouchard said.

Retiree and former administrator Mary Tilford recounted a long career in Volusia schools and said that while the district had been described as \"pretty good\" in February, by April it was publishing a $25.8 million shortfall. \"So are we good or bad?\" she asked. \"Please remember, students should always come first. They are human beings, not human capital.\"

Representatives of Legacy Scholars Academy, a small program on the Residing Hope Children’s Home campus that serves students who have experienced trauma, told the board the program was slated to close and warned of harmful effects if the school were shuttered. Melanie Burton, speaking for Legacy Scholars, said the school had educated roughly 500 trauma‑affected students over the past decade and that external resources provided by Residing Hope allowed the program to serve a population with intensive needs. \"Closing our school will retraumatize our students,\" Burton told the board, and said the facility’s operating costs had been characterized as excessive in the district’s financial accounting.

District staff responded that the closure and transition had been difficult and that officials had worked directly with Legacy leadership. John Cash and Stephanie Workman said district teams met with Legacy Scholars leadership and the children’s home and described efforts to arrange wraparound services for students as they move into district schools. \"We are not abandoning them,\" Cash said. He explained the district had been providing staff‑level supports and that Legacy’s education liaison would continue to help coordinate services during any transition. Cash said the district had served roughly 17–25 Legacy students in recent months and that the program operated with a higher adult‑to‑student ratio than a typical public classroom.

Other commenters at the meeting urged a thorough review of district spending and asked whether district leadership positions had been examined as an alternative to cutting instructional roles. Marta Pascale, a retired administrator who now works in real estate, urged the board to consider procurement timing and RFP language when soliciting vendors for district projects. Several staff and board members noted they had heard many of these concerns and said the board provides regular pre‑meeting briefings for members and that staff would continue to share detailed budget breakdowns and options.

Why it matters: Teachers and community members said they are worried proposed reductions to staff or programs will directly affect student services and classroom supports. District leaders said legal, contractual and categorical funding rules constrain which funds can be used for operating costs, and promised to continue working with schools and community partners to protect students and preserve services where possible.

What’s next: The board did not adopt any budget‑cutting measure at this meeting. Staff said follow‑up budget discussions and staffing decisions will continue in subsequent meetings and recommended the board request and review line‑item level options before final decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Volusia County School Board - The Volusia County School Regular Session 04/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters urged the school board to prioritize classroom staff and questioned potential cuts; representatives of Legacy Scholars Academy said its likely closure would retraumatize students, and district staff described steps to transition and support affected students.","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},6263098,"Volusia recognizes student SALT advisory team, Futures nominees and Addition Financial partnership",918,2682000,3600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f&start=2682&end=3600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f/thumbnail_2682000.jpg","/articles/6263098/Florida/Volusia-recognizes-student-SALT-advisory-team-Futures-nominees-and-Addition-Financial-partnership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263098-f4e18319b48c4b8c0fbdb9d031a1f794/orig.mp4?Expires=1770482063&Signature=akPrJK14tvgyc8v~1rUTrTUlf5drCh1wTCLUP4QlZiIME4PEaStlBycJXwYfF8QaiIT19L6-iY1uum-fpmNo0Q~qIEGNDYnMYj3HJOvnWGCfzD2KA6U6h3RTm2WLqrSlhmD6SAyLhHfl1qdksDfKn95QRukS9Wj-PG1-uSDZ5P-DVGQeLnfX7yghUw15q9fZTJ8Arig3WnXMi0iFZ98SsrlOZKPoutn0U9ykNF72MFYoJYbR79JELb8wE5XY8MMQx~861k85YZPVmuUi5zLQ9AJ3HMhJzqtMiibFe95uwAlLVrEZtfuUjx5ohvlS2SIxh90qBGuKvihbqeN6YFnevw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Volusia County School Board recognized student leaders and community partners at its April 22 meeting.

Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and district directors presented certificates to members of SALT, the superintendent’s Student Advisory Leadership Team, after students described their work representing schools across the district. \"It is a leadership team that represents the different schools, but it also allows these students to feel more included,\" Lucas Gibbs, a SALT member from DeLand High School, told the board. Gibbs said SALT worked on PSAs and presented on topics including mental health; he cited a statistic presented by the student team that they said showed a \"69 percent increase in student mental health issues since 2022.\" Riley Babcock of Atlantic High School said SALT had built problem‑solving and advocacy skills and had produced PSAs on program awareness and campus revitalization.

The board also accepted recognition from the Futures Foundation, which presented 18 support‑staff nominees across the district with certificates and $25 gift cards. Shamine Shepherd, executive director of the Futures Foundation, outlined the foundation’s grant and scholarship work and highlighted its 40‑year support for Volusia County Schools.

Addition Financial, a credit union partner, presented staff with a $10,000 contribution tied to a district debit‑card program that returns a small share of transactions to the district. Richard Barberi, director of community engagement at Addition Financial, described a program in which card use donates three cents per transaction back to the district; the district said the debit‑card program and Addition Financial sponsorship had generated $10,000 this year to support academies and other programs.

Board members praised student leadership and community partnerships and took photos with SALT members and Futures nominees. Superintendent Balgobin said the student work had been \"invaluable to the work that we do.\"","The school board honored the superintendent’s SALT student advisory team, presented Futures Foundation support‑staff nominees and accepted a $10,000 gift from Addition Financial tied to a district debit‑card program.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263103,"Votes at a glance: school board adopts multiple policy changes, tables robotic‑mower bid",0,4084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f&start=4084&end=4084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f/thumbnail_4084000.jpg","/articles/6263103/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-school-board-adopts-multiple-policy-changes-tables-roboticmower-bid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263103-59f8c809cf0938fd119f03c5a448c41d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770482063&Signature=Le2KNjwuDJQjFRq8RnreDnDeMOWoAl70jhU48zJQ9XVPb8dHtSO4KC0UgqyVQIxIEOCY0azXx6xNxyaC0h3uWBlvWWlMSHZ2-TpHR2sqmYUg8yaNHhdZic2EMBE6FWt4dkEj5yuZ9tRGxmyqvt6r1-2ye57JSW5vk3RHNN6qeJPm73F7tCLBaBm5GOqugqiW9xK2GLB6hh6DTWs6Rz~sFkB2AWdlwi7-52VW-9BQc-GFAOOCDtkgvrlbLa9C8rG5z8CUWSaA0WdtbezLwHVbYvyNCHow3EHiGjdXcR5dnxospKi5apABhq9YonIKIhT4LBzy7uT2H6GfDOi3DU~i5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Volusia County School Board took a series of procedural and policy votes during its April 22 meeting. Key outcomes:

- Policy adoptions: The board adopted proposed amendments to policy 6.10 (school facility naming), policy 7.02 (purchasing) and policy 7.17 (travel expense reimbursement) after the superintendent and general counsel said the changes had been vetted and advertised. Each measure passed by voice vote with no recorded negatives and was described in the meeting record as adopted unanimously.

- Advertising a new policy on recorded IEP/504 meetings: The board voted to advertise proposed policy 3.26, guidelines for audio recording of individualized education program (IEP) and Section 504 meetings. The board approved advertising after staff described the policy as a mechanism to provide ADA‑related accommodations for parents who need an audio record or transcript; legal counsel will review documentation submitted by parents and the district will require documentation in advance where appropriate.

- Consent agenda and robotic mowing: The superintendent recommended approval of the consent agenda with one item removed. Item 11.14 — a solicitation for robotic mowing equipment and services — was pulled for discussion by Board Member Reuben Colon after a vendor spoke during the consent‑agenda comment period. Following brief discussion, the board voted to table item 11.14 so staff could provide additional detail; the motion to table passed unanimously.

- Administrative minutes and agenda: Minutes from prior meetings and the presented agenda for April 22 were approved by unanimous voice votes earlier in the meeting.

- Certificates of participation (COPS): The board heard an informational briefing from Chief Financial Officer Todd Sees and the district’s financial advisor on plans for a 2025 direct‑placement certificate of participation (Series 2025‑A). Staff reported they solicited proposals, that Webster Bank offered a proposed fixed rate (3.62% for a seven‑year structure at the time proposals were due), and that the formal resolution and final recommendation will return to the board for consideration on May 13. No action was taken on the financing at this meeting.

Full motions and outcomes follow in the actions list.","At its April 22 meeting the Volusia County School Board adopted amendments to several district policies, approved the consent agenda (with one item removed), tabled a robotic‑mower bid, and reviewed plans for a 2025 certificate‑of‑participation financing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263108,"Volusia board votes to buy Spring Vista parcels for Enterprise Elementary after heated DeBary debate",8439,3620000,12059000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f&start=3620&end=12059","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108079-af7b8817f9d51d1fd2adb1e8835bb57f/thumbnail_3620000.jpg","/articles/6263108/Florida/Volusia-board-votes-to-buy-Spring-Vista-parcels-for-Enterprise-Elementary-after-heated-DeBary-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263108-60436f7cef198ddb9b2a0a2c18b8ce8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770482063&Signature=SMIoIbzvuPMWMlniBQGhljtrxXQm9w3pUuTwxt4XVs0Kb9On9EVUHfF-DzXxNLluVWMwZncuU2jYCBkvdUnuzMGq9Axs6oOFc6eQzxLYtR9usWm6Ep8FghvfiDjIFCorjOeIdk3ADA45PHcTJo6YCCQIAqZX~WB5Wd1CejTSPmyTSw8mFqoGMRRubP6u89DjBtTHzhhDJr9GoCiHagQrsEfbEbh8hMohcp1qbLl9Urg-GEi6cToR10VCeXOkBjAvMqTh0qX3KLM2Sbuw4iI2LXCyTLqSHY8i8FPJFTx~whEOUafR8RgW-TdUTeXLrBAkjxege5UoUDlcQzUADIWHXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Volusia County School Board approved two purchase contracts for the Spring Vista parcels in DeBary on April 22, voting 4–1 on both measures after more than two hours of staff presentations and public comment.

The board voted to buy 6.44 acres (item 17.05) and 18.97 acres (item 17.06) of the Spring Vista property, with Vice Chair Reuben Colon moving both motions and Jamie Haynes (Chair, District 1) and other board members joining the majority. Donna Brosmer (Member, District 4) cast the lone dissent on both votes.

The votes come after an extended staff briefing from Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and planning staff on capacity needs in DeBary and technical differences among available parcels. \"This is not money that can be used on teacher salaries,\" Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said, stressing that the half‑cent sales‑tax and other capital funds proposed for the project are limited to capital uses. \"These are capital funds, and they are categorical, and they are earmarked only for certain things like building of schools.\"

Why it mattered: Volusia officials told the board the city of DeBary has far more school‑age children than its single elementary school can hold. Planning staff said DeBary Elementary already carries an enrollment of roughly 766 students and that hundreds of city residents are currently transported daily to other schools. Ron Young, director of planning and construction, told the board 276 students are bused from DeBary to Enterprise and 459 to River Springs, and staff estimated the two routes together cost roughly $365,000 a year each — about a half‑million dollars combined — in transportation costs the district partially subsidizes.

Staff and engineers contrasted Spring Vista with a previously purchased parcel on Buckley Road that engineers and the state flagged as costly to prepare for construction. \"To fill that site [at Buckley] would take about 1,600 dump‑truck loads of dirt,\" Ron Young said, citing geotechnical work; staff told the board the Buckley parcel has a very high water table, wetlands and would require substantial road improvements. By contrast, Young said Spring Vista has a deeper water table and does not require the same level of site remediation, although the city and some neighbors have raised other objections.

Public comment was divided and often emotional. DeBary Mayor Karen Jose urged caution and said the city’s November quasi‑judicial proceedings found Spring Vista inconsistent with the city comprehensive plan, citing traffic, business activity near the site and impacts on adjacent properties. \"DeBary stood ready to help,\" Mayor Jose said, but she said the city council’s hearing found the site incompatible. City Manager Carmen Rosamondo told the board the city would vigorously defend residents and the comprehensive‑plan decision in court if necessary.

Residents on both sides of the issue addressed the board. Supporters said the city needs a school now to stop families leaving the public system or the city; opponent comments focused on school‑day traffic, emergency‑vehicle access, loss of yards, and alleged mismatches with DeBary’s comprehensive plan. \"There will be miles worth of school drop‑off line\" and hazards for neighbors, resident Emily Dennen said at the podium. Opponents also pointed to the Buckley parcel, which the district owns, and asked why it would not suffice. Planning staff and state reviewers told the board Buckley is costly and technically difficult to develop for school use.

Legal and process questions: DeBary officials pointed to an interlocal agreement between Volusia County and its municipalities (executed February 2003 and amended 2007) and told the board the city must determine whether a school site is consistent with its comprehensive plan. School attorney Gilbert Evans and staff noted they have sought guidance from the Florida Department of Education and the Office for Educational Facilities, and the superintendent said department staff had reviewed the earlier Buckley engineering work and advised that Buckley posed serious site‑preparation costs and traffic issues. The board heard repeated cautions that proceeding without municipal agreement could trigger legal challenges; Superintendent Balgobin said the district had tried multiple times to meet with DeBary officials and commissioners to explain the technical record.

Price and appraisal: Board materials and staff said the parcels have appraisals and that an earlier interim agreement referenced an $8.4 million combined valuation for a set of acreage the district evaluated. During the presentation staff cited the appraisals the board had received in its administrative materials; planning staff said the larger parcel’s owner had recently pursued industrial zoning for the property but that the owner told staff he prefers a school and had not listed the land for sale.

Board action and what’s next: The board approved both purchase contracts, 4–1. Superintendent Balgobin said the purchases are funded from capital sources (half‑cent sales tax proceeds, impact fees and certificates of participation) and are not general‑fund operating dollars. Ron Young said site design and permitting will follow, and that the district will pursue the required state facility reviews and any traffic and drainage permits. Several board members urged renewed engagement with DeBary leadership after the vote.

Why it matters locally: District staff say buying Spring Vista would allow the district to keep more DeBary students inside Volusia County Schools and reduce long daily bus runs. City officials and neighbors say traffic patterns and the municipal comprehensive plan must be respected and that litigation is possible. Both sides told the board they acted for students.

Ending note: Board members framed the decision around the district’s constitutional duty to provide school capacity for neighborhoods. Vice Chair Reuben Colon said the choice reflected that duty and the reality of limited developable sites in DeBary; Donna Brosmer, the lone dissenting vote, said the legal and planning risks and the premium price made her unwilling to proceed.","The Volusia County School Board voted 4–1 to buy two Spring Vista parcels for a planned replacement and placement campus for Enterprise Elementary, drawing objections from DeBary officials and dozens of residents who cited traffic, flooding and planning-law concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Teachers, advocates press board on cuts and Legacy Scholars transition; district pledges support for affected students

Volusia recognizes student SALT advisory team, Futures nominees and Addition Financial partnership

Votes at a glance: school board adopts multiple policy changes, tables robotic‑mower bid

Volusia board votes to buy Spring Vista parcels for Enterprise Elementary after heated DeBary debate