DEBARY, Fla. – Volusia County Schools is considering spending $8 million on a piece of land in DeBary to build a new school. However, the city has already stated that the land cannot accommodate a new school.
The proposed location is on Spring Vista Drive near the intersection of Shell Road. The school board will discuss this issue at its meeting Tuesday night.
With population growth in the area, the district has emphasized the need for a new school in DeBary and the surrounding regions for years.
This new school would replace Enterprise Elementary, which was built in the 1960s.
The school board is focused on acquiring the 19-acre parcel, but the city of DeBary argues that this property can’t handle a school.
“It would require significant road improvements; they would have to use eminent domain for residents’ front yards and businesses’ entryways,” said city manager Carmen Rosamonda. “There are hundreds of millions of dollars of commerce that occur in that industrial park there.”
Rosamonda added that if the district proceeds with building a school on this site, it would violate its interlocal agreement with the city.
“The staff and city attorney would probably recommend an injunction, and it would go into the courts,” Rosamonda said.
The city has proposed an alternative site for the school—48 acres along Buckley Drive. However, the school board recently voted to sell this property, as it had focused its attention on the Spring Vista site.
School Board Chair Jamie Haynes has been advocating for the new school. She provided a statement emphasizing the importance of the new facility.
“As the School Board representative for District 1, serving the DeBary area, I am dedicated to ensuring the highest quality educational facilities and outcomes for our students,” Haynes said.
The district indicates that the board will vote Tuesday night on whether to move forward with acquiring a property for the new school and will determine the exact location.