School's in session: Volusia County Schools celebrates the first day of classes

Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said the district is committed to safety and security in schools, as well as focusing on learning.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 4:00 p.m. August 14, 2023
| Updated 9:15 a.m. August 15, 2023

VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin visits a sixth grade classroom at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Volusia County Schools celebrated the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 14. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin speaks during a press conference at the district's transportation hub on Monday, Aug. 14. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Bus drivers start to leave the transportation hub to begin their routes. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

VCS Chief Operating Officer Earl Johnson Jr., Deputy Superintendent Rachel Hazel, Superintendent Carmen Balgobin, Chief Academic Officer Julio Nazario-Valle, Student Transportation Services Director Rodney Smith and Assistant Director of Fleet and Finance Chris Boyer. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and members of her cabinet wave to bus drivers on the first day of school. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Tonya Rone has been a bus driver for Volusia County Schools for 25 years. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School welcomes students back to school with a banner. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and Hinson Middle School Principal William Dunnigan visit a sixth grade classroom. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

School Board member Jessie Thompson stops by Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin visits a sixth grade classroom at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Students walk the halls at Hinson Middle School during the first day of school. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School Principal William Dunnigan and School Board member Jessie Thompson. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Phones are now prohibited during instructional time. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

School Board members Carl Persis, Jessie Thompson and Hinson Middle School Principal William Dunnigan. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
Schools

Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin's first day of school began about an hour before dawn.

Surrounded by her cabinet members, Balgobin started her "Tour of Schools" on Monday, Aug. 14, at the district's transportation hub in Daytona Beach, waving to bus drivers as they left on their school routes.

"We want to welcome all of our students and their families as they return to Volusia County Public Schools," Balgobin said.

The district has two overriding commitments, Balgobin said. The district's number one priority, she said, is the safety and security of every single student and staff member on campus. The second commitment, she said, is quality teaching and learning.

Bus drivers needed

Volusia County Schools needs 10 more bus drivers to cover all of the district's routes. The district started the year with 159 bus drivers and over 111 bus attendants.

Bus driver Tonya Rone has been with VCS for 25 years, beginning as a bus attendant. This year, she has routes to Longstreet Elementary, Mainland High School and Campbell Middle School.

Her favorite part about being a bus driver? Knowing that the students have a way to get to school safely.

"I'm just looking for a safe, peaceful day," Rone said. "The smiles — and to see my kids. ... I'm ready to see them this morning. I have new kids for my high school and for my middle school this year."

Rone also runs a local nonprofit called T&R Helping Hands, which helps people in Volusia County through community initiatives.

In 2022, VCS began the school year with 256 classroom vacancies. This year, Balgobin said, the district has 97.

"However, I do want to remind and let all of our parents know that every single classroom is covered by a certified teacher," she said.

Last year, if classroom vacancies had been less than 100, that would have been cause for celebration, School Board member Carl Persis said. A total of 97 vacancies spread over its almost 70 public schools is manageable, he said.

"We want a qualified, certified teacher for every child in every classroom," Persis said. "So we're still working to achieve that goal, but it seems like we're almost there."

To fill classroom vacancies, the district has hired 55 interns from its apprentice program with Daytona State College and brought in 60 teachers through an international exchange program while continuing recruitment.

"We're so excited about that program, because it will provide our students not only the opportunity to receive quality instruction, because these are certified teachers, but also that culture exchange," Balgobin said.

New year, new policies

Vaping penalties, transgender bathroom access, and policies for student cell phone use may all change in this year's student code of conduct.

The Volusia County School Board reviewed the proposed changes at a meeting on Aug. 8. Changes in cell phone and bathroom policies are the result of new state laws.

New restroom policy

House Bill 1521, known as the "Safety in Private Spaces Act," requires schools to limit bathroom and changing facility usage by biological sex at birth, or to offer a unisex option. The law bars transgender students, teachers, staff members and visitors from using bathrooms in line with their gender identity.

Students who violate the law in Volusia County Schools will be disciplined as follows, according a presentation by VCS:

First offense: warning and parent contact
Second offense: discipline referral
Additional offenses: Follows the progression of discipline as outlined in the student code of conduct

New cell phone policy

Students, turn those cell phones off.

HB 309, recently signed by the governor, prohibits students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time, except when given permission by a teacher for educational purposes.

This law applies to cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds and other devices that could be used to communicate.

The district has not yet determined disciplinary consequences for breaking this law.

New vaping policy

Students found with vapes could face a five-day suspension upon a first offense if the board approves proposed amendments to its policy on vapes.

Students seen using vapes could face 10 days of out-of-school suspension for a first offense, plus a referral to the District Student Placement Committee.

"There's just no place on our campuses for this," Patty Corr, assistant superintendent, said at the Aug. 8 workshop. "There's just not. We're not going to tolerate it. We don't need it. People bring them voluntarily. They're bringing them intentionally, and we need to get this off of our campuses."

Persis said the school year is off to a safe start.

"That's the most important thing," he said. "And just seeing the excitement, seeing the smiles on the kids' faces."

He also hopes to see an improved achievement level in reading and math for students in kindergarten through third grade this year. Those students had some of the most significant learning losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's critical that they gain that foundation by the time they get to third grade," he said. "So I'm really hoping that there's a strong emphasis to help build that foundation that they didn't have, so they can be successful after."