VCSB Says “No” To Reconsidering Ortona Elementary Decision

Ormond Beach, FL – The choice of Ortona Elementary School over Osceola Elementary School made by the Volusia County School Board (VCSB) last August will stand. The decision to not reconsider the choice was made during yesterday’s (February 9) meeting despite an offer of $1,950,000 as an economic incentive from the city of Ormond Beach.  Osceola Elementary School is in the district belonging to District 4 Commissioner Carl Persis. When the decision was made last year, Persis is the only Board member who voted against the choice of Ortona Elementary. He said he believes the other Board members didn’t want to revisit the issue and were not swayed by the offer of money from Ormond Beach. "Because I was the only one that voted against it originally, it would take a member who was on the prevailing side to want to bring the issue back up." Persis said that Osceola Elementary School will be open for a couple of more years as Ortona Elementary students go there while the new school is being built. When that’s done, likely in August 2022, students from Tomoka Elementary will be displaced from their school to the same portables being used now by the Ortona students. The unwillingness of other School Board members to hear new information that may have served the purpose of influencing them has left Persis disappointed but he says he’s still working hard for students in his district.  "I want to assure all the beachside students from Seabreeze Boulevard to the Flagler County line that I will continue to advocate for all of them." Persis said he thinks it would be great for both schools’ faculties and students, Ortona and Osceola, to choose a new name that will bring them together.