Volusia school board removes Sabatino suspension from personnel vote amid grievance and public outcry
Summary
After public testimony and the filing of a level‑1 grievance and a notice of intent to sue, the Volusia County School Board deferred action on a proposed suspension for employee Rob Sabatino and approved the rest of the personnel slate without his discipline. Speakers criticized the district’s handling as inconsistent and potentially unlawful.
The Volusia County School Board on Jan. 13 removed a proposed suspension for district employee Rob Sabatino from a personnel motion after public speakers and several board members questioned the timing and fairness of the process.
The board approved the personnel slate on a voice vote but specifically excluded Sabatino’s suspension, saying the suspension line will return to the agenda only after the grievance process plays out. Chair Reuben Colon made the motion to accept item 11.02 with Sabatino’s suspension removed; the motion passed by voice vote.
During public comment, Elizabeth Albert said the district had departed from normal practice by voting on suspension before grievance hearings concluded. “This is not the process that we follow typically,” Albert told the board, urging that the suspension be corrected or removed until the grievance completes.
Rob Sabatino addressed the board directly, saying the district’s recommended discipline had “changed four times in 90 days” despite the same evidence and alleging the investigation lacked impartiality and adequate witness interviews. “The district has conducted a one‑sided inquiry intended to protect leadership rather than find the truth,” Sabatino said, and asked the board to reject the recommendation.
Board members discussed legal notice the district received and confirmed a level‑1 grievance meeting has been scheduled. School officials said some personnel records and calendar dates had been corrected in recent days to reflect a five‑day suspension (not the three days mistakenly posted) and an employee leave of absence beginning Jan. 5.
Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin and staff described the grievance processes available under district procedures. Board attorney Dr. Gilbert Evans noted that the agenda item had been posted before the district received the grievance but that the board would remove the Sabatino line and revisit it after the grievance outcome.
The board’s action keeps the personnel roster moving while deferring a contested disciplinary action pending the contractually required grievance steps and any related legal proceedings.
