- December 15, 2025
Also: Let Volusia Vote members still working
Wayne Grant
News Editor
The Volusia County School Board approved an agreement unanimously May 12 with the teachers’ union that resulted in an average raise of 2.78%, retroactive to last July. The teachers had approved the contract on May 11 with 93% voting yes. About 67% of the membership voted.
The negotiations almost went to a special magistrate when an impasse was declared, but the board and the union came to an agreement before that became necessary. During the stalemate, the teachers “worked to contract,” which meant they did not put in any extra hours.
In another negotiation, the School Board reached a tentative agreement on May 8 with the Volusia Educational Support Association, which represents clerical and classroom paraprofessional personnel, for a raise of 3%.
Last year, the teachers’ union received a higher raise than VESA employees, and that is the reason for the larger increase for VESA this year, according to School Board spokeswoman Nancy Wait.
The tentative agreement still needs to be ratified by both sides. VESA bargaining unit employees will tentatively vote on May 18 followed by a school board vote on May 26.
The School Board will reopen negotiations with another union, the American Federation of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees, on May 13, per an agreement made earlier this year. The two sides will discuss increasing the average of their raises to 3% as well, according to Wait.
Beach controversy continues
Ormond Beach resident Donna Craig is still collecting signatures for Let Volusia Vote, in the wake of recent decisions by the County Council to accommodate developers with no driving areas.
The Volusia County Council voted at their May 7 meeting to enter an agreement with two properties in Daytona Beach to implement traffic-free zones on the beach behind their facilities if they provide adequate off-beach parking. The two properties are the Desert Inn, expected to be developed into a Westin Inn, and a proposed Hard Rock Resort.
The council also established conditions under which they would consider a driving ban to encourage economic development between University Boulevard and Seabreeze Boulevard, and between International Speedway Boulevard and Silver Beach Avenue.
The actions of the council did not stop local activists who are seeking to have an item on the 2016 ballot that would require voter approval before driving can be removed from the beach.
Craig, of Let Volusia Vote, said they almost have enough signatures for the petition to get the matter before the voters.
“It will be on the 2016 ballot,” she said.
Signatures from all districts in the county are necessary, and the group only needs a number from West Volusia.
County legal representatives have said the petition and vote would be unconstitutional, but others say it would have to be decided in court.
Craig said it’s possible that Let Volusia Vote could challenge the May 7 decision by the County Council to ban driving for the properties in Daytona Beach.
“We have legal representatives who are looking into it,” she said.
