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

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…