- November 23, 2024
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The approved Volusia County School District budget is $1.4 billion, although that may be revised down because there are fewer enrolled students than were originally projected. Either way, that’s a lot of money.
I got curious recently and decided to look at where we were 10 years ago, especially given all the very loud chest-pounding over population growth. To my surprise, while our general population may be growing, our student population is not. We can’t say the same for the school district budget.
In 2014, we had approximately 61,000 students. Our budget was $777 million.
In 2024, we have approximately 61,000 students. Our budget is $1.4 billion.
My math says that’s a budget increase of approximately 80% in 10 years, with no increase in students.
Now let’s add to that total, the end of the district cost differential (DCD) which, thanks to the efforts of Rep. Tom Leek, reaped the district a windfall of roughly $30 million in back state allocations, as I understand it, that had been withheld because of that calculation.
Then there are the ESSER funds — the federal Covid gift of $50 million each year for four years. That’s another $200 million windfall to the district.
Anyone would think the district would be rolling in dough but as I saw it explained, the millage looks like it has gone down but they have actually raised both their 2025 millage rate and their impact fees because of the way it is calculated. Has any board member — just one? — asked why?
Apparently not. Budget presentations are seemingly detailed but are broken into categories without details. Budget updates are not even discussed. They are on the consent agenda.
A News-Journal headline features a 3% raise for some staff. In 2014, average teacher pay was $44,250. Today, it is roughly $48,800. That big budget increase clearly isn’t going to teachers.
Early anecdotal reports from parents and teachers have focused on crowded classrooms and late buses — too few teachers and too few bus drivers.
Meanwhile, the most recent School Board meeting, lasting only a bit more than an hour and a half, was full of self-congratulatory crowing over the claim that the district is now down to just 30 vacancies.
Tell that to the schools where buses arrive 40 minutes after class dismissal and then have to take kids home in shifts so some of those kids don’t get home until dinnertime. Or tell it to the administrators with 1,200 kids and just one school nurse who can only be there for a couple of hours a day. Or to the middle school PE teachers with 60 rowdy and fighting kids in a class. Or to the overcrowded elementary school classes, despite empty classrooms. Or ask why a sound stage was built at the district offices for the superintendent to record her “Board Bites,” instead of at a high school, where students could use it for projects or for career training.
Months ago, as new district positions were added at nearly every board meeting, I sent a public records request to the district, asking how many district employees, with no student contact, were employed five years ago, and how many were employed this year. I received an email, saying that my request required five hours of a supervisor’s time at $50/hour, and my bill would be in excess of $250. At $50/hour for that supervisor, my clerical request was being assigned to a $100,000/year unnamed employee.
Of course, the best way to discourage such requests, and make sure the public can’t get answers to simple questions, is to charge more than they will pay. It worked, so I still don’t know.
And the board doesn’t ask.
Someone once joked that government is the only place where the lack of budget growth is called a “cut.” When the ESSER funds ended, understood from the beginning as temporary, and restricted to temporary uses, the ensuing district chaos was referred to as being “fiscally responsible.” Teachers are teaching out of field in larger numbers, have been transferred to new schools and assignments across the county, classes and programs have been cut — all while board members wax romantic about the first day of school as a reconnection between favorite teachers and the students who have known them.
So as we try to figure out where all the money goes — since no one will tell us — let’s factor into the question such external factors as the time value of money (2014 dollars compared to 2024), inflation, additional state and federal regulations, and unfunded mandates.
Does that add up to 80%? My personal budget is affected by those external factors too and as painful as these last few years have proved to be, my costs aren’t 80% higher. I’m not a numbers person, but this just doesn’t add up.
Donna Brosemer is a candidate running for Volusia County School Board District 4. A former lobbyist, Brosemer has 30 years of experience working in public policy and has served on higher education state boards.
Editor's note: The Ormond Beach Observer provided Volusia County Schools a chance to respond.
Volusia County Schools appreciates community engagement in our budgeting process and welcomes the opportunity to provide clarifying information.
Our budget has increased over the past decade, aligning with rising state revenues per full-time-equivalent student, legislative salary enhancement initiatives, and the growing costs of goods and services. These investments have allowed us to enhance programs, upgrade technology, and address critical infrastructure needs, all aimed at promoting student achievement and ensuring a safe learning environment.
A portion of the budget growth stems from significant one-time funding sources, such as ESSER, which supported essential pandemic-related expenses and temporary programs. As these funds phase out, we are carefully managing the transition to ensure minimal disruption to core educational services.
Teacher compensation remains a top priority. While average salaries have increased modestly, we've also invested in benefits, professional development, and classroom resources that support our educators.
We acknowledge ongoing challenges, including transportation and staffing in some areas. We're actively working on solutions, including diligently recruiting bus drivers, that prioritize student needs within our budgetary constraints.
Transparency is a cornerstone of our financial management. We are committed to enhancing public access to information and ensuring clarity and accountability in the use of public funds.
Volusia County Schools is dedicated to providing a high-quality education while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. We welcome continued community engagement as we work together to ensure the success of every student.
