VCSB Confirms Interim School Superintendent

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DeLand, FL -  Dr. Carmen Balgobin will serve as interim school superintendent while Superintendent Dr. Scott Fritz undergoes chemo-therapy for cancer. She has already been in place covering his duties since July 1. The Volusia County School Board made the choice official during a special School Board meeting this morning (July 7). Balgobin was approved to take over by unanimous vote, retroactive to July 1, and effective through August 28.

Once the decision was made, the question of how Balgobin would fulfill her duties as interim superintendent and deputy superintendent. She assured School Board members that she has plans to share some duties. "I will be taking some steps to some of my duties as deputy sup, I will get a few folks involved such as assistant superintendents to assist with some of those functions. So I think, for now, we are good to go the way it is because some of those functions will be divided up."

Dr. Scott Fritz had put in for emergency leave to deal with his illness. After a bit of discussion, Board members decided that he will need to exhaust his sick leave that he brought with him from Osceola County and what he has accrued in Volusia County since last December. Board member Ruben Colon posed the question to School Board Attorney Ted Doran about the amount of leave Dr. Fritz has available. The response was that he does. "What the policy says for paid sick leave is that the employee must exhaust their sick leave and having seen the amount of sick leave, I think that that will be covered. I think that I in good conscious can support this motion." School Board members agreed to not allow emergency leave at this time but to revisit at a later date if necessary.

The third issue on the special meeting agenda was Dr. Fritz's evaluation date.  It was originally scheduled for August 4 but given the circumstances, the Board voted to move the date to October 13. The Board will talk about a salary adjustment for Dr. Balgobin at their regular meeting on July 25.

A special meeting is scheduled for July 15 to discuss the plans to reopen schools in August.

Volusia County School Board, School Superintendent