The tug-of-war over the right location for a new school in Volusia County is far from over. The Volusia County School Board is considering spending around $8 million for land in DeBary— a plan met with fervent opposition from city officials. According to WFTV, the proposed site at Spring Vista Drive and Shell Road has been criticized by City Manager Carmen Rosamonda for the potential issues it could spur among existing residents and businesses. Rosamonda stated, "It impacts eminent domain of people's houses, it impacts the businesses that are located there, and it impacts existing subdivisions that were already built there prior to the school coming there."
Despite the Volusia School Board's interest, DeBary officials have rigorously argued that the Spring Vista site will not adequately accommodate a new school, citing considerable community concerns. A statement detailed by ClickOrlando from Rosamonda warns that the district's push to build on this land may violate an interlocal agreement, potentially leading to legal action. The School Board's acquisition plans also appear to quickly upend previous assessments of DeBary's land availability and potentially infringe on existing community infrastructure.
The controversy deepens with the city's proposed alternative—a 48-acre site along Buckley Drive. However, this suggestion comes after the school board decides to sell the property, further complicating the quest for a new school location. Adding to the strain are the school board's previous property investments, including a parcel at U.S. 17-92 and Buckley Drive bought last year for $4.73 million, which was later deemed too expensive to develop. As reported by The News-Journal Online, developing the parcel would require extensive and costly improvements, leaving the school district to consider putting it back on the market.
Meanwhile, a crossfire of priorities remains unresolved. The impasse tightly grips the future of DeBary's educational landscape, raising important questions on how to reconcile the city's development ambitions with the vital need for accessible and modern educational facilities.
