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“We need to slow down”: Volusia teachers union challenges fired superintendent’s severance agreement

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County School District is set to pay outgoing Superintendent Dr. Scott Fritz a more than $186,000 severance after firing him months before his contract expired.

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The school board voted to terminate the contract early, without cause, at its meeting Tuesday night, before also approving the severance payment.

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Now, the union representing Volusia County educators is questioning whether that payout is warranted.

Volusia United Educators President  Elizabeth Albert sent a letter to her union members, the school board and the district attorney Wednesday outlining the ways they believe Fritz’ behavior as superintendent should keep him from receiving that severance.

In the letter, Albert claims Fritz, “has not demonstrated the level of behavior commensurate with the position of superintendent.”

READ: Volusia County School Board votes to terminate superintendent immediately

The union claims there’s evidence Fritz was not only insubordinate, but acted inappropriately at times.

Albert said she personally was belittled and yelled at by Fritz.

“I did have an exchange with him at one point where I was shouted at and some disparaging comments were made to me,” Albert said.

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In her letter, Albert also references an email exchange between Fritz and Board Chairman Ruben Colon in which Colon expressed his dismay that Fritz did not follow through and meet with each board member to go over their concerns.

“Just hoping that maybe someone will take a second look and say there is enough evidence here to warrant an investigation,” Albert said. “We need to slow down what we are doing and make sure we are doing the right thing.”

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