Volusia school board compiles superintendent evaluation amid strong public praise and heated social‑media dispute

The Volusia County School Board gathered Aug. 26 to review the superintendent’s year and to hear public comment, with many speakers praising Superintendent Carmen Balgobin for the district’s recent “A” rating and others criticizing a board member’s social‑media remarks about language and workers. The board’s evaluation process was described to the board by Chief of Staff John Cash, who said each board member completed the district’s 26‑indicator evaluation tool independently and returned an evidence packet that the staff compiled into a single document for accuracy review by the board attorney and chair. Cash said the evidence packet contained about 167 artifacts with live links supporting the evaluation. Why it matters: The superintendent’s annual evaluation is the board’s primary performance oversight tool for the district chief executive. The public comments and several board remarks at the meeting made clear that the evaluation came in the context of strong district performance and a public debate about tone and inclusion in elected officials’ public remarks. During the board discussion, members described how they completed their ratings. Board Member Reuben Colon said he rated Balgobin “proficient,” adding that “proficient does not mean perfect” and that the superintendent “performs her duties at a high level in accordance to the rubric.” Board Member Jesse Thompson said she relied heavily on the evidence packet and praised the superintendent’s handling of the district during the pandemic and afterward. Board Member Krista Goodrich called Balgobin “a rock star” who “has married business and running a major operation with the care that’s needed for children.” Public speakers repeatedly congratulated the superintendent. Cynthia Slater, president of the Volusia County‑Daytona Beach branch of the NAACP, told the board she and the NAACP had maintained monthly meetings with the district and praised Balgobin’s leadership and the district’s academic gains. Ken Phelps of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce and Josh Gergan of AdventHealth emphasized workforce and literacy partnerships that they said complemented district efforts in career and technical education (CTE). Several speakers also raised concerns about a social‑media post by a board member. Daisy Grimes and others called out a recent social‑media remark by “a member of this board” they said demeaned families who speak languages other than English; later in the meeting Board Member Donna Brosmer confirmed she had posted a message seeking a nail technician who speaks “fluent English” and said the post was a personal request. Board Member Reuben Colon addressed Brosmer directly during public comment: “Miss Brosmer, your words were very hurtful.” The board did not take a formal public vote altering the superintendent’s rating at the meeting; the chief of staff described the process used to compile members’ independent evaluations into a single document for the board’s records. Several board members said they had supplied written comments and scores and that the compilation is intended to be transparent. No formal motion to change employment status or compensation for the superintendent was offered on the public agenda. The session illustrated competing public priorities: celebrating academic gains and business partnerships while dealing with fallout from elected‑official communications. Multiple board members urged civility and noted that social media statements by elected officials can have wide community impact. The board closed the discussion by scheduling a brief pause in the meeting and later proceeded to other agenda items.