During a contentious year in education in Florida — dubbed the “Year of the Parent” by some — Volusia and Flagler school districts dealt with contention of their own, including a superintendent firing and hiring, and heated school board races.
Volusia County Schools kicked off 2022 with much-anticipated teacher raises in January, bumping the minimum annual salary to $47,500, though the district continues to work with Volusia United Educators on salary compression.
Following heated controversy in 2021 over the book “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” a memoir by Black LGBTQ activist George M. Johnson, Flagler Schools started its year by introducing an opt-out program that allows parents to determine which books their children can check out from school libraries.
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As the year continued, both districts earned B ratings from the Florida Department of Education, prompting school board candidates to campaign on returning the districts to A’s as election season heated up. The election was sandwiched by back-to-back hurricanes, which canceled classes and led schools to open up as shelters.
In September, Mainland High School was the subject of a “cruel prank” that sent the school into lockdown and made national news. Police determined multiple groups of students collaborated to spread rumors of someone having a gun and to create a scene, which sent the student body into a panic and led further unconfirmed rumors to spread on social media.
Volusia also dealt with retaliation allegations from a former employee and accusations from parents about discriminatory student discipline, but also celebrated many milestones, including the opening of Deltona Middle School, the start of its dual language program and the 20th year of The Chiles Academy for pregnant and parenting students.
Here are three of the biggest local education stories from 2022:
Volusia School Board fires Superintendent Fritz, rehires Balgobin
In a saga drawn out over the first half of 2022, Volusia County Schools’ superintendent swap drew the attention of many parents, educators and community members.
Scott Fritz became superintendent in late 2019, several months after the school board ousted Tom Russell. The board contemplated whether to renew Fritz’s contract in February. While many local organizations supported renewal, some parents and staff were concerned about Fritz’s handling of COVID-19 protocols including mask mandates and vaccinations, lack of communication with employees, unsupportive work environments and low pay.
Fritz decided in March not to renew his contract, around the same time then-Deputy Superintendent Carmen Balgobin was tapped to head to the Broward County School District. The school board terminated Fritz in a 3-2 vote in April, appointing Human Resources Director Rachel Hazel in the interim.
Balgobin was rehired by the school board in May and started her three-year term in July. She had previously served as interim superintendent in Fritz’s place while he underwent cancer treatment for several months.
The moves exemplified retention issues not only for teachers and staff in the district, but for administration as well. Director of Safety and Security Michelle Newman resigned in September, shortly after District Spokeswoman Kelly Schulz left. Both followed Fritz to work for the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County.
The school board and longtime attorney Ted Doran also parted ways after board members clashed with Doran and the firm provided another attorney in his place.
School board elections bring new members to Flagler, Volusia districts
While school board races are technically nonpartisan, politics have increasingly infiltrated the races, particularly in Florida this year, where Gov. Ron DeSantis chose to endorse candidates.
Political newcomer Jessie Thompson, backed by DeSantis, won her race for Volusia’s District 3, and Jamie Haynes, who also received the governor’s support, retained her District 1 seat.
In Flagler County, DeSantis-endorsed Christy Chong and Will Furry, both new candidates, won their races. Sally Hunt also won a seat on the board.
Political ads played a role in both counties, especially from political action committees like School Boards Matter, which funded attack ads against Volusia candidate Kim Short in the primary race and Flagler candidate Courtney VandeBunte in the general election.
Flagler students take action on ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
The News-Journal also followed the activism of Flagler students in response to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, which is intended to support parents’ rights by prohibiting school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
Dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics, the legislation prompted a walkout of over 500 students at Flagler-Palm Coast High School in March, led by student Jack Petocz, in support of LGBTQ rights and visibility. Petocz distributed pride flags to students at his school and also organized walkouts at Matanzas High School and more than 20 schools across the state in opposition to the bill.
He was placed on administrative excused absence but later returned to school, continuing to advocate for LGBTQ rights and becoming a nationally recognized name.
At the time, Petocz received support from the ACLU of Florida, Equality Florida and other groups. He has also been invited to the White House on multiple occasions and included in Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 list.
In 2023 and beyond
Looking ahead, both districts have allocated funds to school expansions and rebuilds. In Volusia, Ortona and Osceola elementary schools will unite on the new Beachside Elementary campus in the new year, and Turie T. Small and Edith I. Starke elementary rebuilds are in the works. In Flagler, plans for Matanzas High School’s renovation and expansion will also continue.
Both districts are also in negotiations with teachers unions over salary and other working conditions.
Contact Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.
