- January 14, 2025
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Following the resignation of Jessie Thompson as chair, of the Volusia County School Board, Jaime Haynes will assume the leadership role for a third term.
The School Board approved the appointment of Haynes as board chair during an organizational meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The meeting took place a week after Thompson, who represents District 3, stepped down from the position. She had been appointed as chair at the board's Nov. 19 organizational meeting, but in mid-December, after remarks she made during a Moms for Liberty national summit held that summer came to light, the board voted to revisit its decision in January.
In late August 2024, Thompson was part of a session during the 2024 Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors National Summit titled "How to Work With Your School Board." During the session, she admitted to feeding fellow board members false data to get agenda items approved as well as questioned the graduation rate for Deltona High School.
She was also criticized for being unprofessional by Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila on Facebook for referring to District 5 School Board member Ruben Colon as a "tan man." In the session, Thompson said she didn't get along with her fellow board members, saying she was "hated," and admitted to lying to the district prior to her election to get a medical exemption for her children not to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the Dec. 10 School Board meeting, where the board made the decision to revisit Thompson's appointment to the position, Thompson apologized for her words, calling the incident a "growing moment."
"I know these words, it's going to take time, but moving forward, I think that we will be a stronger, better board, and I will always be focused on putting our students first and making sure that they get the best possible education, because they really are the reason that I'm here," Thompson said at the Dec. 10 meeting.
Haynes' appointment as chair was approved with a 4-1 vote, with School Board member Donna Brosemer voting against. Brosemer said Haynes had been chair for two years in a row, and said she thought it was time for another chair.
Additionally, Brosemer said she disagreed with the way Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin's contract renewal was handled in December; Brosemer voted against the contract at the Dec. 10 meeting as well, wanting more time to review the contract.
"The way the contract for the superintendent was handled was grossly unethical," Brosemer said. "Unless Miss Haynes when there was public notice given to the board that that contract was even being considered for negotiation — I have not been able to find it."
Haynes was serving as vice chair, based on the Nov. 19 organizational meeting. As she moved on to chair, the board selected School Board member Ruben Colon as its new vice chair.
The vote passed 3-2, with Thompson and School Board member Krista Goodrich voting nay.
