AVID LEARNER — Aubrey Haynes, AVID student from University High, addresses the Volusia County School Board about budget cuts April 23.
Budget cuts by the Volusia County School Board drew public outcry and attention after it became clear that various arts and academic programs would be substantially affected. The budget slashing comes with the depletion of ESSER funds (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief), monies that were allocated to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the programs affected is AVID program, or Advancement Via Individual Determination program, which will be essentially wiped out from Volusia County high schools. AVID programs, designed to prepare students for college readiness, began in 2003 and are currently in about 23 middle- and-high schools.
The outcry began at the April 9 School Board meeting when students from Deltona High School pleaded for their choir program.
“Choir has genuinely shaped me into who I am today,” choir student Coraline Ormata told the School Board. “The opportunities I have gotten out of this program will never be provided to the students of Deltona High School.”
The dedicated choir teacher for Deltona High School was cut, students explained — choir will remain, but the current teacher of band will take over.
“As part of our strategic use of resources, certain programs that did not have enough student interest were downsized or eliminated at select schools,” the School District responded in a Beacon query about AVID and other programs. “These decisions were made to ensure that our investments were fully utilized and impactful at specific schools.”
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The changes were felt not just in the art programs like band, choir, orchestra and art, but also in programs designed for academic achievement like AVID.
AVID programs are specialized classes that prepare students for college, help with procuring scholarships, explain complicated student loan forms, assist in current academic achievement, and provide a trove of other assistance.
Often, AVID classes are targeted towards students who need individualized help as well as low income students.
The Volusia County School District sent an email to educators in the performing arts and AVID March 21 explaining the change. The email explained that the teachers and paraprofessionals are not getting laid off but “reassigned” for the coming up school year, essentially meaning their current positions were being eliminated and they can choose from other available positions.
The result, according to local teachers, is teaching a subject they are not passionate about or moving schools completely.
While the AVID program may not be as known as programs such as choir and band, it still affects hundreds of students a year.
Former AVID student Henry Arambu Cruz said this about the program’s big impact on his life.
“AVID is the sole reason I was able to get into a four-year degree,” Arambu told The Beacon on April 19. “I was a recipient of the Dell scholarship which [gave me] $20,000 across four years and a Dell laptop for schoolwork.”
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Many educators who spoke to The Beacon were afraid of pushback for going on the record. Most pointed to confusion about cuts to AVID, since the program has been funded by the district since it began in 2003. But now, it is up to individual principals to find the money to keep the programs running since the district has retracted that funding.
Converting a program that was district-funded into an expense on the individualized school budget does not appear to be easy. Of the 23 schools with the program, 87-percent have chosen to end AVID altogether.
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The outcry continued at the April 23 School Board meeting, where community members showed up in spades to speak on the recent budget issues within the district.
“In two years, this program has helped me grow tremendously,” Aubury Haynes, a sophomore at University High School in Orange City, said of AVID. “It has advanced my school and personal life … it teaches us how to be functioning adults in society.”
A former School Board member chastised the current board.
“It’s important that you come up with a plan quickly,” former School Board Member Ida Wright said. “How do we get out of where we are? … I was really disappointed when we had principals put in the hot seat because we never had principals do allocations [budgeting] without district staff.”
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After requests from The Beacon specifically on the cuts affecting AVID and other arts programs, the School District put out a press release specific to AVID.
“While the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program has been successfully implemented and will remain at Creekside Middle School, Spruce Creek High School, and Taylor Middle-High School, not all middle and high schools in the district will continue to offer AVID as an elective course next year,” the press release reads.
Indeed, of the 23 schools that had AVID programs, only those three listed will continue the program
“Even if your child’s school doesn’t offer a dedicated AVID elective, the program’s strategies and best practices can still be incorporated into regular classrooms. Teachers can use AVID techniques to promote student engagement, critical thinking, and college readiness, benefiting all students,” the press release reassured.
While teachers use AVID techniques, the release indicated no formal plan or training to allow teachers time, resources and knowledge to do so.
