001for the school district of Indian River County. I ask that out of respect to everyone, please silence all electronic devices. And at this time, I'd like to call the meeting to order. It is 5:30. I'd like to recognize the superintendent for a series of awards and presentations. Dr. Moore. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. We do have a number of presentations, including some student performances, so we're glad to bring those back. So, I will turn it over to Miss Hodgej, who will present our uh next few items. >> Good evening, everyone. It's great to see a packed house this evening. >> Honorable board chair, board members, Dr. Moore, and attendees, we're honored to begin tonight's school board meeting with a celebration of excellence in education highlighting outstanding educators and students across our district. The first item
002is the 2025 outstanding teacher leader award where we will be recognizing Miss Jennifer Marorrow. We're proud to recognize Miss Jennifer Marorrow, a dedicated educator at Oyola Magnet K8 as a recipient of the 2025 outstanding teacher leader award. Let's take a moment to watch a short video on either side that highlights her incredible impact in the classroom and beyond. [Music] Hi, my name is Jennifer Norris. I'm principal of Ociel Magnet School. We'd like to congratulate Jennifer Marorrow on the outstanding teacher leader award for 2025 for the state of Florida. So, Jennifer Marorrow is an outstanding leader in our school because she cares about students. She cares about our staff. She goes above and beyond to make sure that teachers have an understanding of what those high impact strategies are and how they fit into the classroom.
003her hard work and dedication has really just been elevated and broadcast for everyone to find out. She is going forward and she's mentoring some of our newer teachers this year. Uh she is really making such a huge impact across our campus to make sure that everybody has the information that they need to make sure that our students are successful and able to move forward. We are so thankful to have Jennifer Marorrow as part of our staff. She makes an impact every day not only with our students but with sharing her knowledge across our campus. She continues to mentor other teachers. She continues to help problem solve and make our school the best that it can be. Miss Marorrow is a great teacher and the reason why I like Miss Mar is because she makes learning
004fun and she's the reason why I like I started to like math more. >> Miss Marorrow made learning fun. I remember when we were studying for the fast test, we had a glow party and it was so fun cuz it incorporated learning and fun. Miss Marorrow was a great teacher and I loved having her. I hope other kids enjoy her as much as I did. When I was in Miss Maro's class last year, she was the reason I wanted to go to school. She made learning so fun to the checkbook math to teaching me just new strategies about math. She was so fun. One like one of the best teachers I've had. >> Miss Ma is a spectacular teacher. I really wish she moved to fifth grade with us. >> She made learning so much
005fun. >> I know. She It was really just a one in a billion teacher. >> She's amazing. >> Yeah, we should love her. >> Yeah, >> Miss Marorrow was a really good great teacher and she was really influential to me in math and science and she was just an allaround great teacher and I love her so much. >> Miss Marorrow is so kind. She is the reason I love math and hopefully I always will love math too. >> Miss Marorrow is the best teacher of the whole wide world. She taught me so much and I wish she could have been in fifth grade this year. >> I think Miss Maro is a great fourth grade teacher because she is very encouraging. Whenever I am stuck on a test question, she says, "Don't worry, you got
006this." That is why I think Miss Marorrow is a is a great fourth grade teacher. >> We love you, Miss Maro. [Applause] So before we bring Miss Marorrow up to the podium to share a few word words, I want to share that your incredible students that was one take each one. Fantastic. presenting Miss Marorrow. [Applause] >> Board members, Superintendent Dr. Moore, and district leaders, thank you so much for this incredible recognition tonight. Being honored with winning Oh my goodness, look at the sign. >> I just saw them. being honored with winning the outstanding teacher leader award by the Florida Department of Education while representing this awesome school district of Indian River County as your teacher of the year was a moment that I will never forget as well as this moment right here right now.
007As your teacher of the year, I had the opportunity to meet all of the other district teachers of the year for Florida this past summer for a week-long event in July. I heard others speak about their districts, things that they like, things that they'd like to see changed. But what surprised me most was the number of them who expressed feelings of stagnancy. What an honor it was to stand and declare straight from my heart, not my district, the school district of Indian River County is on a trajectory unlike anything I or the state of Florida has ever seen. And watch out because we're coming in hot for the number one spot. No pressure. >> Thank you so much for this. I will never forget it. Thank you. Yeah. Come on. Come on. Get in there.
008>> Come on. You got to All right. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. [Applause] >> Share that video. >> Item B this evening is Felsmere Elementary School student performance honoring Hispanic Heritage Month. We're pleased to honor the rich cultural contributions of our students and staff dur during Hispanic Heritage Month. Under the guidance of music teacher Miss Rodriguez and principal Mr. E, the students of Felsmere Elementary School will now share a special musical performance in celebration of Hispanic heritage. Are we gonna go down anymore? >> Board members, if you want to come down to a so you don't see their backs, we'll we'll wait a second. >> Or if you want to throw on a sombrero and participate, Dr. Pasca, we could [Music] La [Music] say you're nobody Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat.
009Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] We need to take [Music] We need the board back on. I'm going to go help Terry get up there. >> I need to walk. Thank you. [Laughter] >> Fabulous. >> Congratulations. For item C and D, Oyola Magnet School student performance and steam school designations. I'd like to invite Miss Kristen Buckner, coordination coordinator of innovation to present the steam school designations. Good evening. I'm Kristen Buckner, coordinator of innovation for our district, and it's my honor to be here with you tonight um to present our Steam designation awards. One of the this is one of the programs I'm proud to be a part of. As many of you know that steam education weaves science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into everyday lessons and curriculum. Over the past year,
010four of our schools have continued to advance their steam initiatives. We evaluated these schools based on three key areas. Their overwide over Oh, they're there. Overall schoolwide steam plans, the variety and quality of steam opportunities and for students inside and outside the classroom, and their steam achievement and acceleration data. The pictures that you are seeing are all four of these schools. Throughout last year in their projects, students at these schools engaged in inspiring work, designing habitats, launching investigations into aerodynamics, constellations, flight, and rockets, building levies and wind turbines, and even prosthetic limbs. Our teachers have been tremendous stewards of innovation, guiding students to think deeply, collaborate, and problem solve. It's because of these educators and schools like these that my SDIRC continues to be a place where we all want to thrive. Tonight, I'm especially
011proud to present the Steam Designation Award to these four schools. We're doing something slightly different this year, and we have students here to accept the awards on behalf of their school. After all, it's them that's the heart of the work. So, when I call your school's name, students, please come forward to accept your certificate. Our first school tonight improved from bronze to silver. They raised the bar on their aerospace theme and have the highest fifth grade science scores in the district. It's my pleasure to present Indian River Academy with the Silver Steam Designation Award. That's Principal Ray Hall. Next, Treasure Coast Elementary will again receive the gold steam designation award. Their ongoing work in marine science and conver conservation, particularly with their partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation, continues to be exemplary. Our third school
012is Storm Grove Middle, also earning gold once again. They're integrating science and history into their critical thinking curriculum in creative and meaningful ways. [Applause] And finally, Oyola Magna is being honored again with the gold designation as well. across all grade levels. They consistently offer engineering design challenges tied to their core content each nine weeks, showing what STEM can look like in robust practice. [Applause] Before we conclude this evening, we have a special treat. A group of Oyola students will perform a steam song. And while they're performing, the slideshow will continue to showcase our students in action. Congratulations again to all of the schools and their students. We're excited to witness continued growth in your programs. Thank you to our community partners, admin, teachers, and families. You guys continue to help fuel the innovation. Mary. [Music]
013This is what they [Music] have. Use your rain. Use your school tools. Use creative thinking through will help you too. Science is second engineering partic. Science second [Music] engineering artic. Ask [Music] a question, make a plan, measure, test, and take a stand. See, ideas are everywhere. [Music] heart is second engineering heart. This is funny to build the future of [Applause] Beautiful job. Beautiful job. Absolutely outstanding to get some student performances and talent back on our quasi stage. Uh madam chair, that does conclude awards and presentations. >> Thank you to all the families that came out tonight supporting the kids and all you do to support the school district. Thank you. It is 5:49. We will conclude the awards and pre and presentations. We will start in a few minutes with an invocation and then we
014will have our business meeting at six o'clock. school district's business meeting at the Joan Idollet Jr. TEC. Today is Monday, September 29th, 2025, and I'd like to call this meeting to order. The time is 6:01. I ask out of respect to everyone, please at this time silence all electronic devices. Also, if you have any material you wish to share with a board member, please give that to our executive assistant, Mrs. Mo. She's seated right there. All right. Um, I'd ask the superintendent to lead us, please, in the pledge of allegiance. >> Actually, we have ROC. >> Thank you. >> I don't have that. So, we have the ROC. Is this Vo Beach? >> Oh, Vero Beach is ROC. Thank you. Please stand. Let face present to the flag of the United States of America and
015to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Right. Face forward. Mark. Come back. They are back. >> It's always nice to have the ROC here. Thank you. All right, board members. At this time, um, I'd like to ask for adoption of the orders of the day. Are there any items that board members wish to move from consent to action or add to discussion? >> Hearing none. >> I see none. All right. Could I get a motion then? >> So move. Okay. Second. >> All right. So there are no discussion items added and we don't need to vote on that. Um yes we do. So all those in favor of um adopting the orders of the day as written say I. >> I. I. >> Anyone
016opposed? Okay. It passes 4 zero and we have Dr. Jones with the first Dr. for Pasco with the second. Okay. Do we have anybody on teams? >> Mr. Rosario was on teams. >> That's what I'm asking. Is she there? I want to make sure that she's accounted for. >> She's on. >> I'm here. Can you hear me? >> Nope. We're just making sure. >> All right. Um, did you want to be counted on that vote for the um >> Yes, we can. Yes, we can hear you. >> Yeah. Yes, because um I was actually speaking I was talking when you asked for adoptions of the orders of the day and if any board members wanted to move anything from uh consent to action, but you weren't I don't know if you heard me or if
017the volume was off. >> No. And and it's already been voted on. >> Would you like to vote for it or against it? Um I would like to ask um our attorney go backwards >> um in a situation like this madam attorney um where there was a computer I don't know what it was volume issue can we revisit that opening >> u you you board members you can through the chair sorry uh you can do a motion for reconsideration of uh something previously adopted. >> Can you speak into the microphone? >> Members, you can do a motion for reconsideration for something that was previously adopted. >> Yeah, I'd appreciate that. Thank >> you'd have to make that motion. >> Yes, I make a motion for reconsideration of um the orders of the day. >> Okay.
018I have a motion for reconsideration. Do I have a second? Okay, it dies for lack of a second. All right. So, we are to the superintendent report. The chair recognizes Dr. Moore. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going pull up the presentation. It is exciting to bring our superintendent report and now I have control. So, just a review of the month. Uh very very busy busy month. We did have our welcome back pep rallies which is a new initiative really not open not just to open schools but open schools with a high level of energy and excitement really making sure families were connected to what's happening in each and every single one of our schools and you're going to see a theme regarding pillar events if I can get this it worked the first time
019Sam you be my clicker Sam. All right. Uh, at the district we like to have a lot of fun. I was me and Bruce were actually in a meeting. Uh, I did have my Garnet and gold on and Bruce did have on his UCF, right? UCF Knights shirt. Um, so this is just an opportunity for us as we kicked off football season to to celebrate um some of our our university and go nullles even though we lost. Um, and this is our website launch. This was a significant amount of work. Uh, thank you Dr. began, Dr. Shafty and the committee who's been working on it across a number of different areas to lift this new website. The transition or integration period is typically six months. We did it about three and a half. Um so
020we're excited about the new look and the additional access and representing ourselves in um the worldwide web with a space and a look that is reflective of the quality of work and teaching that takes place each and every single day. Uh we continue with our pillar events. We had donuts with grown-ups. This is connecting families together. Not only connecting them to our school, but being extremely intentional of connecting parents with parents and growing and building that relationship with them uh with each other to strengthen not only our community, but to increase their advocacy and connection to the schooling that we provide for their children. On Patriots Day 911, um it is a standing event always done with class. Mr. Cummings uh with his 911 heroes day at his school. Very powerful each and every single
021year. It it seems to always rain uh during this event. I was not here for this one. Um but once again heard it was absolutely outstanding. Open houses, the participation at all levels, standing room only. Great connections, great opportunities to engage uh teachers with families. Really really enjoyed that. uh and the powerful uh opportunity to connect with parents and teachers. On September 18th, we did do the um ribbon cutting for Pelican Island Classical magnet. Um that was absolutely outstanding. Um we did Miss Rosario, I know you're not here, but we did take the idea that was shared by one of the individuals that was on the stage of signing the ribbon cutting. Everyone at the school has signed it. Our board members just signed it. So I will have it for you to sign before
022we give it to the school who was going to post it uh in their um entrance way of of the school. We love that idea and are taking advantage of that. And then really really special event for me September 19th had the opportunity to attend the state board meeting uh and be acknowledged with the everyone who worked in the Florida Department of Education. The commissioner brought the entire building down for this acknowledgement. So, I was asking my staff like, "Who needs an email responded to right now? I have everybody in the room." Uh, but they're doing a great job in getting back to us. So, that was special. But even more special was the next day, Florida State University brought all the of the years, the teacher of the year, the employee of the year,
023the assistant principal of the year, um, onto the field for a recognition. Everyone knows, if you know anything about me, I am a seminal fan. Uh my four brothers went to Florida State, my dad went to Florida State, my two daughters went to Florida State. Uh so to have the opportunity to be on the field uh was really really exciting for for me. So I'm glad the Department of Education and Florida State University uh had those acknowledgements, it was great great thing for me. Uh and then this Thursday is going to be a very special event. This is the unleashing of the video series, the documentary that they have done on our partnership uh at Vera Beach Elementary School with the learning alliance. We are going to show just a few. I think there's 10
024different segments. We're going to show one segment and one overview uh which highlights this partnership and the impact that we have collectively had. Uh so this is going to be a a a great night for us as we celebrate teachers, we celebrate students, we celebrate families, we celebrate the impact of what education is in our community. So very very excited uh and very much looking forward to to packing the house and celebrating uh teaching and learning in Indian River County. I did add some slides just to kind of set things up for the board. This is a slide that Mr. Green has presented a number of times board members and you look at the increase in the family empowerment scholarships over the year and this is looking at the increase in family empowerment scholarships as
025well as the enrollment in charters and you see the enrollment in charters has remained steady over the course of the last several years going back to 2018 school year but the increase because of the change in shift in Florida law uh the significant increase uh in that um program. This is the enrollment which is our enrollment. The best thing about this slide is we predicted a certain number and we exceeded that number. But as a result over the last several days of of being with the other 66 superintendent and problem solving with them, there is a burden that I think we collectively should address and that is to push ourselves forward in the innovation and recreation of what public education looks like. And it is very clear to me that we as a school system,
026we principles, teachers, together, we have done some extremely innovative things. We have improved educational outcomes at a rate that no other district has over the last four years. We've gone from 38th to fifth. Uh we have built capacity at the teacher level, at the principal level. Um, just listening to some of these pre presentations today is is a validation to me that we need to look at the spaces that we have within our school system to fill the seats. And over the last five years, I've been able to come to this board with about seven over $7 million of reductions. And that is looking at the space that we have available, the allocation of district staff, building that capacity, and then pushing ourselves or shrinking ourselves. We're to the point board where we've shrunk so
027much the ESC office is um empty. We're going to consider bringing it to you for sale. The student services building across the the street, we're we've shrunk so much we can bring that staff over to this space um because of the efficiencies that we have created and we're proud of those efficiencies. Uh we've created a staff allocation model that allows us to look at where students enrollment will be in October in comparison to make sure we're budgeting our processes. A master schedule review process, spring budget conferences, uh protocol for allocation requests, some of the efficiencies, interestbased bargaining, uh which is a collective process. We work with our union uh to make sure teacher union to make sure that we're listening and responding and and creating efficiencies where there's truly need. The reality is we need
028to begin the conversation around not just innovation but the maximizing the space that we have through innovation which means we haven't looked at boundaries in a very long time. We need to look at boundaries to maximize space. Um because there has been shifts and changes in state law regarding um the kinds of public education that can be offered. There's a niche. There's an ability for us to provide or shift programming to increase our access and connectivity with our students. So it is a long hard look over the next several months. Um, but I do think we need to not only do this for our community, I cannot put any more reductions at the at the district level to offset uh enrollment trends. But I do think we have the space, we have the initiative, we
029have the uh capacity at our school sites as well as the district office uh to bring forward recommendations to maximize the space that we have sitting at about 72 73% overall capacity as a school system. uh which means to me that's opportunity. That's opportunity to fill seats. That's opportunity to do things differently. Uh and I think with this board uh and this staff that sits in front of you, we can really be a shining uh beacon of light for all other communities and school boards to look at in terms of the work that lies ahead. So excited to engage with the board on that particular area. And that is the presentation, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Dr. Moore. >> Okay. Okay, at this time we have our public input. These are the procedures for public
030input. According to schoolboard policy 0169.1, during regular business meetings of the board, the board offers the following two opportunities for the public to provide us with input. One, on an agenda item, consent act consent agenda and or action agenda prior to the board taking official action on that proposition. and two during the public input section for items not on the agenda. For those who are watching, please understand that though we have established proper decorum and expectations of professionalism, when it comes to individuals who wish to provide public input, this is a live broadcast. Each individual speaker shall be allotted up to three minutes during public input and up to three minutes to an item on the consent agenda and or action agenda as indicated in the order of business as it exists at the time
031of the meeting as it started. The time period may be adjusted by the presiding officer and individuals may only speak once about a given item. Individuals who have filled out the speaker's form are allowed to address the board. Individuals may not delegate their allotted time to speak to other individuals. or four other individuals. If an item is moved from either the consent agenda or discussion agenda to the action agenda, individuals will have the opportunity to speak to an item prior to the vote of the board. During the meeting, please refrain from clapping or outbursts of any sort so that we can proceed with dignity and decorum by not infringing on any individual's first amendment rights in this limited public forum meeting. As board members listen to individuals without interruption, we ask please the individuals um
032give board members the same respect. Board members may or may not address any individual statements at the end of the public input comments. I will be recognizing calling up individuals two at a time in the order in which the speaker forms were received. The first individual will be called to the podium to speak and the second individual will be in line to speak. The executive assistant to the school board will be the official timekeeper and the time shall start when the speaker is at the podium. As you will see, the time clock is visible to your left on the dis. You'll hear a beep at the end of the three minutes. If you have anything you wish to give to board members or to the superintendent, please do this through our executive assistant, Miss Mo.
033She's seated right there. All right. after. All right. After, let's see, we got that. We have five speakers tonight. Our first speaker is Margaret Murray and on deck is Marilyn Levecia. My name is Margaret Murray, vice chairman of Education Champions, a grassroots organization born two years ago here in Indian River County. We formed after the August 23rd schoolboard meeting, one that frankly made our blood boil because of its style, content, and motives of school library book removals. Seven neighbors and friends came together to stand up for public education and the right to read. Two years later, we are 150 members strong and growing. Through partnerships with other groups, we now number thousands of residents in this county who stand with us in valuing public education. Here are some of what we have accomplished. We've attended
034superintendent workshops and schoolboard meetings. You will often see our members present, wearing our t-shirts, waving American flags, and speaking out on important issues. We've rolled up our sleeves and volunteered at schools, donating snacks, supplies, and our time, visiting schools to see firsthand the great things that are happening. We've researched issues and spoken with educational experts. We supported two excellent candidates for the school board, leaders who are committed to kids and classrooms. We fought against the state budget cuts for vital programs such as AP, Career Technical, and others. We are not a pack nor a political organization. Among us are Republicans, Democrats, and independents. What unites us is our belief that every child deserves a strong, highquality public education. To our teachers, school personnel, we see you. We appreciate you. We know that without you, none
035of the recognition and success our district has earned would be possible. Every day you welcome our kids with kindness, compassion, and joy. You make classrooms safe, fun, and full of learning. Your dedication is the reason our children thrive. And for that, we say thank you. And to anyone listening tonight who shares our passion, parents, grandparents, neighbors, if you want to join us, email us at education champions of IRC atgmail.com. We are education champions and we will continue to stand strong for our kids, our teachers, and our school. Thank you. >> Thank you. Marilyn Lecia is next. Dr. Margie Flanigan is on deck. >> Good evening. I'm Marilyn Levecia, a founding member of Education Champions, Advocates for Public Education. I'm speaking tonight because I believe in public education and want the community to know one way
036in which it is being quietly, knowingly, and systematically dismantled. First, to be clear, I believe in school choice to meet our children's needs. But what we see today is not true choice. It is a deeply flawed system where over 70% of voucher funds are going to children who were already enrolled in private schools or were already being homeschooled. Whether called f family empowerment scholarships or vouchers, the results are the same. School vouchers are not expanding opportunity. It is redirecting $4 billion dollars of our public tax dollars to private, often for-profit concerns, leaving public schools underfunded in the process. Vouchers and school choice should be separate issues. But today, these lines are blurred. Vouchers were originally intended as an alternative for parents of exceptional students whose needs were not being met in public schools and the
037parents could not afford private school. Today, the original legislative intent is lost, shrouded in expanded legislation that allows private schools to be financed through our public tax dollars with little accountability. Florida's voucher program now provides approximately $10,000 per child in public tax dollars to families choosing private schools, religious institutions, or homeschooling. Yet there is little or no accountability, lacking requirements for standardized testing, certified teachers, curriculum oversight, and proof of academic pro progress. And parents can choose to reenroll their children in public schools after February 1st without returning any funds back to the state while the school district is not reimbursed for these students, further eroding school budgets. Thanks to our school leadership team led by Dr. more our school board and teachers. We have a public school system that works in Indian River County. Our
038students achieve and are thriving. Our teachers show up every day for our kids and our schools reflect the strength and diversity of our community. But I'm speaking out tonight to inform this board and our community that if we do not act now, we risk losing quality public schools whose foundations are access, equity, and the belief that every child deserves a quality education. As Thomas Jefferson said, quote, "Whenever the people are wellinformed, they can be trusted with their own government." Unquote. Public education is what makes that possible. We must all protect that before it's too late. Thank you. >> Dr. Margie Flanigan is next. Thomas Kenny is on deck. [Music] Thank you. Good evening. I'm Dr. Margie Flanigan, chair of Education Champions. When education champions formed two years ago, we set as our mission to be
039a positive, proactive force for ensuring quality public education for all students. We envisioned helping Indian River County meet today's challenges to ensure students retain access to appropriate diverse reading material, are taught secular, fact-based curriculum, enjoy a safe, nurturing, and accepting learning environment, and receive adequate support services to ensure all students excel. We wanted to demonstrate a special commitment to our outstanding teachers and support personnel who every day do the tough, demanding work inherent in their positions without acknowledgement and certainly without adequate financial compensation for their talents, skills, and dedication. Fortunately, we have an excellent superintendent and Dr. Moore along with a stellar administrative team and board members committed to student achievement. This has helped the district adapt and our student achievement metrics improve. The district now serves as a model for others. Still, these are
040difficult times and there is tough work ahead, including eliminating the achievement gap between student subgroups, ensuring enrollment growth, recruiting, retaining, and fairly compensating teachers and staff to name a few. While we face numerous obstacles, including political divides, we all share an ardent desire for our children to thrive, graduate, and be financially self-sufficient, despite our differences of opinion and how best to achieve these goals. Historically, strife and discord are not new. Public education has been the stalwart against turbulent political winds, the anchor upon which we have weathered trends and societal storms. Public education is the great equalizer providing opportunities for all. We cannot afford to give up on public schools. Our children's and our communities futures depend on it. To quote aft President Randy Weingarten, "A rich, robust, well-resourced public education is one of the best
041routes out of poverty and a pathway to prosperity." Education champions remain committed to helping the district and our students achieve and prosper now and into the future. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thomas Kenny is next. Jennifer Pippen is on deck and will be our last speaker. [Music] Okay. Uh, first I just want to share a moment about Charlie Kirk who was a champion who fought for free speech and faith. He's a martyr. I too remember the August meeting about books that we had here was very controversial and I want to acknowledge the important role of TPUSA faith pastor John Emachuku for focusing the issue of pornography in our public schools. Without him we wouldn't had the success of getting good reading in our school system. I really appreciate Charlie Kirk's uh vision for free speech,
042for advocacy in the public square, and all the things he did to build people's minds and hearts in the American vision. So, with that being said, I just want to turn my focus to the desegregation order. I've watched uh the meetings for the last six months. They've been all on transportation led by uh M Miss Idollet. As many of you know, the Idolletes were the originators, one of the originating plaintiffs of the desegregation order, and rightfully so. It's no mistake. But this has become ridiculous. This contract that uh that is now being broken down into KPIs and the various things that go on for each point needs to be done away with. And here's why. For six months, we've been talking about transportation. a woman who's run this pl uh the transportation department since 2016,
043Miss Idollet, very uh aware of the desegregation order and the and the and the vision of equality that it brought forth and desegregation has a perfect department in all aspects of this. Okay. Repeatedly it's been said in these meetings for the past six months that the school district supplies 100% requested transportation for whoever asked, no matter what student and these people want to know if uh within that 100% they're meeting quotas. And then there was a thing in the last meeting where Mawn Green from the NAACP brought up an article about New York public transportation which had nothing to do with the discussion that you guys were talking about. Nothing to do. But it turned into a 45minute discussion about are kids on the bus too long and are they the right color or the
044wrong color. It was ridiculous. This was about a union suit because they were cutting busing in New York City because they weren't allowed to charge uh rush hour fees anymore or whatever the case may be. So this stuff just needs to stop and you need to recognize like everyone did that the reason we have kids busing across town is because of desegregation busing and you guys want to change that and I hope you do. >> Thank you. Jennifer Pippen is next and she will be our last speaker. [Music] >> Good evening. My name is Jennifer Pippen and I'm the proud chairman here of Moms for Liberty in Indian River County. First, I want to echo the remarks made by Thomas Kenny regarding the long-standing desegregation order. It's time to acknowledge the reality. Our schools have
045not been segregated for decades. We must comply with the Georgia judge's directive and bring this outdated order to a close and meet monthly as the judge ordered. Next, thank you to the district for upholding the First Amendment rights of our teachers and staff. We appreciate the thorough investigation into the false allegations against conservative educators who peacefully exercised their rights, whether by attending a Charlie Kirk flag wave or posting political photos with family and friends outside of school grounds. These were personal constitutionally protected actions and we're grateful that the district recognized that and chose to not pursue unwarranted disciplinary measures from the minority of liberals. it upset. That decision affirms your commitment to fairness, due process, and equal treatment of those four that we know of, teachers and staff. We are, however, still hearing concerns from
046families about recent transportation changes as of this year. Specifically, students on Route 67 to Storm Grove Middle School. Schools are now or excuse me, students are now walking more than two miles daily after the removal of a previous depot stop at a nearby apartment complex off of 12th Street in Indian River Boulevard. We ask the district to please re-evaluate this route for the safety of children. Also, I want to bring attention to a troubling incident at Oslo Middle School a couple weeks ago where a student was physically assaulted after repeated threats. As most parents would, the family has now withdrawn her from the school district and currently homeschooling her. While we understand the code of conduct was followed for these um issues involved, including the aggressor and the students who filmed the attack, more productive
047steps could have been taken earlier to protect this victim that is now gone from your school system. This is a call for stronger protocols to prevent bullying and harassment, especially at the middle school level, not to just react after the harm has been done. if we can do better on this. Looking ahead at the agenda 10A, Moms for Liberty supports the adoption of the classical curriculum program, which provides a strong academic foundation and promotes critical thinking rooted in civic and historical literacy. It is currently still your only um school that has a wait list to be um for K and one um students and families. We also support 10B on the action agenda for the approval of the two-year strategic plan. You guys did a great job on that. I want to thank you for
048your time and have a great evening. >> Okay, that concludes our citizen input for tonight. >> Just checking to make sure we don't have any others. Okay, good. All right, [Music] board members, we're moving to the consent agenda. I'd like to call for a motion to approve the consent agenda items as printed. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Jones, Dr. Pasca. Any discussion on the the consent agenda? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rosario. >> Yes. There are um three items that I wanted to initially pull um for further discussion. Uh but as it stands right now, I'll I'll leave it up to Dr. Moore um as to when to discuss those. But the first one was dual enrollment. It took a little while um for us to get that on the agenda. And I'd like
049to thank uh Mrs. Basura um for all of her work with this. I know that the college they were going back and forth for quite a while and finally um it uh they kind of figured out what the um the enrollment agreement would be with Indian River State College and the school district of of Indian River. Um so at some point it would be um nice to share with the public if there were any changes to this so that parents know um what those changes are. quick summary to that agreement would be uh prudent for the public. The other item is the school improvement plan. These are the items. This item is go going to be approved through consent as well. Um I thought it would be um very important for uh board members for
050the public to hear um the review of the school improvement plan. those are directly linked to um to school to school grades and to the academic achievement of students obviously um and to administrators roles in our schools. So um obviously as we are approving our strategic plan it is um directly linked um and would do us well to hear an overview of that. And then the last item that I'd like to um discuss that is on the consent is an item to approve uh students from Sebastian River um high school uh the band to go to Hawaii. I am super excited for them. um this item will give them the opportunity to really um travel um and explore and make great memories um and so on and so forth. So um these items were the
051items that I initially wanted to pull for those reasons. Um I open it up for discussion if anyone has any further discussion at this point. >> Anyone like to comment? No, the only comment I have is that for the school improvement plans, thank you to the schools for working so diligently to make sure that they align with our strategic plan and then what their goals are. And also um that at each school level, the school advisory council is driving that plan with the with the principles. So I know parents are very involved in those plans and they should be continuously involved in those plans throughout the year. So we appreciate all that hard work. >> Dr. Moore, did you want to say? So just a a quick update, dual enrollment was um we had to
052wait for the the the uh Indian River State College. We did make some changes which drastically increased access and expanded that. Uh Miss Bura, thank you for for leading that work and making sure actually we were going to bring it the previous month. Uh but they had made some changes or were looking at making changes literally the day before. So we made a decision not to have to bring it back twice. um which is that school improvement plans. As we've discussed many times, we we follow a very different process. We've had a number of uh different districts come and visit. I think we have another district coming this Friday. We have two coming the following week to look at how we do continuous improvement. We follow a quarterly update plan that is 100% aligned to
053the board's uh strategic plan. Uh it is approved by the uh SAC council. The SAC council, for those that are listening, is the school's version of the school board. They have it's made up of 51% of of non staff or teachers at at the school, but of parents and community members who are equally involved in seeing each and every single one of those schools thrive. And then the the field trip itself, the field trip is a wonderful opportunity for the students of Sebastian Senior. It's extremely proactive. the approval of that item. Board members allows ample time and gives protections as well if if something goes wrong regarding a hurricane or a storm or something tragic uh that would not prevent them from from going uh to fund raise while at the same time protecting those
054funds and getting those funds uh back to the appropriate party if needed. So those are those are that's the update. >> Thank you board members. I'm going to call for the vote. All those in favor for approval of consent agenda items say I. >> I. Anyone opposed? Okay, it passes 5-0. All right, now we are to our action agenda. So, we have agenda item 10A, public hearing for approval of Pelican Island Classical Mag magnet kindergarten and first grade instructional materials adoption for the school year 20252026. This item deals with approval for adoption. And as noted, Dr. Moore, have you documented that this public hearing was properly advertised in accordance with the state statutes? >> Yes. >> We now recess this meeting to conduct the public hearing as advertised. Public hearing is now in session. The
055time is 6:40. Dr. Moore, are there any written responses to the advertised public hearing to be read at this time? Not at this time. >> The public is invited to address only this issue at this time. Is there an individual representing an organization or his own personal or public interest who wishes to speak? Okay. Seeing none, um I'd like to announce that the public hearing for adoption of Pelican Island Classical Magnet kindergarten and first grade instructional materials school year 20252026 has been conducted pursuant to notice and ample opportunity to address this issue has been provided to all. Board meeting is now reconvened at this time. The time is 6:40. I'll call for a motion for the adoption of Pelican Island Classical Magnet kindergarten and first grade instructional materials school year 2025 20226 as noted. >>
056So move second member >> I'm sorry. >> Okay, Mr. Dyer. Um any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Okay, passes 5-0. Okay, we are to action agenda item 10B, amendment approval of the Ignite 2027 district strategic plan. I'm going to call for a motion for approval for the Ignite 2027 district strategic plan as noted. But before that, I'd like to bring that item up for the superintendent. Would you like to discuss that at all? >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I did um when we amended the agenda on Friday, move this to action. I I just wanted to to thank the team. This is a a humongous lift. Um, for the life of me, I can't figure out why so many districts outsource their strategic plan. Uh, but this is
057something um that we do not outsource at all. It is the culminating event that we're approving tonight of a whole bunch of thinking led by Dr. Jacobs, Dr. Began. Uh, they went through a very lengthy process where they engaged other cabinet members to conduct conversations. uh principles had conversations just the depth of what we put before you and and we have discussed with the board on four or five different occasions as well as um the the individual meetings. This is a plan I think we all can be proud of. So I just wanted uh Dr. Jacobs quickly to kind of go over the the process that we followed. Um I think we've discussed at length the the content of the plan and the structure of the plan. uh but just asurances regarding the volume of
058work and the people who were involved in the creation of this plan. >> Thank you, Dr. Moore. Good evening, Chair Baronborg and board members. I do um want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all of those who contributed to the development development of this plan. Um Dr. Jennifer Began has been essentially my partner in crime um with this plan and really um have been have been working side by side on getting this plan in a structure and way that it's actionable and it really drives the work of the district. In addition, I would be remiss not to acknowledge uh Mr. Bruce Green and Dr. Kira Shafty in addition to Dr. vegan who facilitated a number of our focus groups um that directly feed uh input, feedback, information from a variety of stakeholders. Um
059and I do not have a clicker so >> Oh, I can I can click for you. >> I will click through very quickly just to share kind of the depth of this work and the feedback that went into this plan. As a reminder, we had 16 sessions with 10 different stakeholder groups. Um, it was approximately over 500 different individuals involved in both the stakeholder focus groups as well as our town hall sessions. We also gathered school board member feedback and I want to acknowledge the feedback provided from all of the board members and I'll share a little bit about the feedback cycle that we went through over time to really illustrate the collaborative nature of the development of this plan. In addition to those things, we had district aligned workg groupoups that really focused on
060innovation and leadership and envisioning what that could look like over the next few years. And then also finally our designed ed workg group which was done in alignment with the Indian river education fund with our middle school teachers to get their thinking around middle school redesign. As you know we are deep into that process right now in our K through8 schools but also are um expanding that work to our traditional middle school spaces. So this is the feedback trends that we showed you. There were um a variety of trends or themes that really stuck out. Innovation was one um theme that loud and clear the various stakeholders talked about. Um providing the professional learning to support that innovation, safety and security. um was stakeholder a big theme in stakeholder feedback and that was very much
061aligned to what board members told us about the importance of that within the plan. As far as our cadence of schoolboard feedback, I just wanted to share for those who may be listening in on the amount of work that went into developing this. You can see that we essentially had a monthly cycle of board workshops in which we provided information about the plan development in digestible bites in order to gather board member feedback and ideas and then go back to the drawing board at monthly intervals in order to incorporate that feedback into the plan. In addition, in July and August, after we got had an opportunity to start drafting the actual plan, which you know um is a significant lift, we brought that plan back to board members. Even at that point, there were pieces
062of feedback that really changed the structure of our plan. And I'd like to share a little bit about that. We did maintain the previous five focus areas that were in our original achieve 2025 district strategic plan. However, we incorporated three strategic pillars. So that is a lot of the messaging that you've heard us talk about connected by community, fueled by innovation and driven by leadership. And that really has taken root within the district and across the district. and we have been fully aligning the work both at the district level as well as the school level in those strategic pillars. Next, a big shift from a five-year plan to a two-year plan. This was directly related to board member feedback about how quickly we have to think and work and act and respond in order to
063drive innovation in ways that are best for students. And then finally, a continued emphasis on results in the annual object objectives. So, we didn't want to walk away with um walk away from being objective about what we wanted to see as we realize the goals in our plan. Finally, there was also, as I mentioned, uh desire to ensure a continued focus on safety and security um as it's fundamental to the well-being of our students as well as our staff in our school environments. establishing innovation and um associated strategies as a cornerstone of the plan and that is um well entrenched into the document that you see being brought before you for approval tonight. Continued expansion of programmatic options and I won't go much more into that but Dr. Moore mentioned some of that during his
064superintendence report of looking at how we can expand those pro programmatic options and maximize um what we have to offer to students and finally accelerating instructional impact through leadership development. And so we've talked on previous occasions that um we are very much proud of our educators, our teachers, our leaders, uh our district staff that have really driven the outcomes that we are seeing um within our school settings. However, to continue to sustain that over time, we need to continue to build capacity within our leadership pools um and lead at every level. So that's from the classroom, our teacher leaders all the way up to district office. And so that just provides you um a quick overview of the work that went into all of this. And I want to thank each and every person who
065engaged in this process alongside us in order to create a plan that really speaks to what our community wants. Thank you. >> That all Dr. Moore. >> Okay. All right. So I'm going to call for a motion for approval of the Ignite 2027 district strategic plan as noted. >> So moved. >> Dr. Pusca. >> Second. >> Mr. Dyer. >> Any discussion? >> Yes, please. >> Yes, >> Dr. Jones. >> Just a couple things. I'm working on strategic plan with economic development council and then executive round table. We're looking at governance and policy and bylaw. And Dr. Moore, they are paying somebody economic development council to do that. >> Don't say it too loud. >> I know. But it um you know when I look at this plan I have very carefully first of all I'm
066glad that we're looking at every two years because public education is changing faster than we can even imagine and where we're going and um the pillars I thought the those three pillars were just excellent additions because that's what we have to be about to be successful and I love that we're keeping our guiding principles with academic success being the main focus for our students but this is very very well written and I want to thank everybody who had a part of it. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Mr. Dyer. >> Uh yes, I'd just say that I I too concur that a plan that you develop yourself and everybody has ownership of is much better than having somebody from the outside lead it. So, uh while I I think that it may have been uh
067a lot more uh effort on everybody's part, you'll get a better plan as a result. Uh I think that also what should be noted is one of the big things that you did uh uh focus in on this year was innovation and truly we are in a uh need for innovation to compete and to be successful in today's environment with the funding that that we have and with the competitive nature. So, I I think that you guys rose to the challenge and uh really commend you uh on on those efforts. I also would note that one of the things that was a byproduct of the uh plan, and I assume you did the two-year plan rather than the three-year because your goal is to be number one district in Florida. And so, I assume you're
068now going to accomplish that by the end of this plan, which uh maybe even this year. >> Never misses the opportunity to apply pressure. >> Okay, good. All right, Miss Rosario, do do you want to say anything? >> I think it's a great plan and I'm looking forward to um all of the um output of the innovation that's happening in the district and I'm glad that we are finally where we are right now and we're moving forward. >> Okay. Um I'd just like to add um thank you for all your hard work, Dr. Began, um Dr. Jacobs and the whole team uh putting together a strategic plan is an enormous um goal to achieve and you have done it very well. I know that um bringing it down to two years I think is really
069important because of all the little um goals that we set for ourselves that we want to immediately change and then we look at a strategic plan that's five years out and we say h. So I appreciate the fact that we're doing that. Um, thank you for all the input that you got from the community, from parents, from not just these five board members. So, we appreciate that as well. All right. So, um, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? It passes 5-0. Thank you. >> All right. At this time, we have a discussion item. Discussion A, transportation costs. Dr. Jones. >> Thank you. Um, I'm going to change my approach on this a little bit. I did not realize Dr. Moore was going to kind of give us
070a report on where we're going, but and I did have this on the agenda before he did that, but I want to start out because I love what Mrs. Mo said, coming in hot for the number one spot. So, we need to kind of keep that focus as we move forward. >> Um, when we look at our budget, we had a great budget um approval uh with Mr. Green in the finance department and we're moving forward and I don't know if Mr. agree will share this, but he gets calls from other finance people to see how we're doing it with our SAM model and discretionary and how we all lot of that. Um, but we all know when we look at budget, uh, we have to pay about $5 million a year in transportation over
071the last five years, that's been the average and also a lot of issues when we have ESC. So, those are the two funding things. And as we move forward, you know, it be it would be nice if somehow we could recoup some of that money because every penny is going to count. I know Dr. Moore and Mrs. Idollet in the summer looked at routes and reduce many routes, save money, worked hard on changing those convenience stops, if you will, because we do not get money from them. We're lucky that our magnet school students can now go to the depots and at least get on the bus there. and we do everything we can when parents call in and say, you know, we need some help with safety issues. I was looking at state statute because
072I thought about this with our K8s and it's really different. Um, they will go up to sixth grade for safety issues but not seventh and eighth. So, we're saying would we tell a second grader in a K8 school that you can ride it but not the eighth grader. So, those are things I think we have to constantly look at and we always want to make sure that our parents and our our students are safe. Um, and as we look forward to this board and making some tough decisions and innovation has been one of our keys, our K8, looking at uh our boutique high school, look at our steam programs, everything that we do in our schools. I mean, we are trying to hit the ground running uh because we have a declining enrollment and there
073are some issues. I was listening to Orange County the other day and they're losing 7,000 students and they're going to have school closures. And I think the key here, Dr. more is um we have to look at every penny obviously, but keeping our community informed. We have a great community who supports public education and we want to make sure that they are aware of what we're going to do and I know we're going to start talking about that in October because this is hard. You know, when I was in the school district when we first came, I think we had around 18 19,000 students and life has changed. We know that. I met with Senator Gro and had a great meeting, a great meeting about accountability and helping us become more flexible and what we
074have to do in public schools. Give us a little bit more room here because we are setting the pace. We are the template for this and I think we can continue to do a a good job. You know, I've been here for 45 years and I have seen when a school was trying to close. I have seen when you consolidate. And so I just ask that we as a board um continue to look at that to see how we can save money. Obviously, you know, maybe some of those convenience stops we can't do. Maybe some of the things we can't do, but letting our parents know why. Letting our parents know why. Uh we are an a school district three years in a row. We're fifth in the state. And we want to keep this
075going. And how do we keep this going? Uh we create a sustainable healthy organization. And that organization is the value that you, Dr. more in this board puts on our our employees. They are so very very important to us. You know, it's real simple for me. I'm a public school advocate. I will fight for public schools every minute of the day. And we have some challenges, but I just say we don't have to do it alone. We can do it together because this community wants us to soar. This community and this board wants us to keep improving. And um I just say let's be ahead of the curve. if there are some things that we have to talk about just keep our parents infor and I don't know if you like this idea I haven't
076run this by you but >> is this on transportation >> no this is the transportation was how do we save money but that the big thing was you know transportation is we have these big things as far as uh the money we have to spend I'd like to reduce so that we didn't lose that 25 million but that would be you know talking to our state legislators because they do not provide all the money in transportation. They do not prov pro provide all the money we need in ESSE. So, I'm just saying in general, let's, you know, maybe form a committee or a group to talk about this because everyone on the day is a Miss Rosaro, we want the school to be successful. You know, maybe we can't do the convenience stops, maybe we
077can't do this, maybe we can't do that, but we will always keep our focus on our kids. So, just want your reply on that, buddy. >> Thank you. And I I appreciate that. And I think a lot of people look at the state of affairs in in Florida and say, "Oh my gosh, we have so much we have to deal with." To me, it's almost exciting and that we've this burden is being placed upon us. Although we may not have wanted it, um, but we're the ones that gets to solve the problem. So it will be complex but I am so confident and excited that we have the right people in place in order to take this on and at the end of the day uh which won't be anytime soon. This will be engaging
078in conversations over the course of time that we create a reality um that better serves the children in our community and that's ultimately I lead with innovation around the shifts and changes and modifications. Um I when I was in Miami and and the fact that we homeschooled our kids, it was I was almost shamed. Um and what I learned through that experience and how we decided to educate our kids become such a benefit uh to what public education is be is becoming uh and being flexible and and creating dropin schools and and kids are going to want more flexibility. they're gonna they're realizing from the kids that live next to them or the team or the sports teams that they're on that there's just not one way of doing school. Um and that's just the
079truth of it. So what a what an awesome responsibility we have to be the authors of what this could possibly look like. And you know it becomes this balance and I know this is not now I'm talking too much. Um it becomes this balance when we from a a perspective of of all right Terry drive up to Tallahassee these are the things that we need flexibility or advoc advocacy around and shifts in statute uh in order to do you know what we need to create and I think if we don't provide that information to the state then shame on us uh because ultimately the levers that have been pulled uh has been to create competition um so we can sit back and say, "Oh, wo is public education." Or we can be the authors of
080what public education can be because you're right, we are the number one choice in this community. Um, and we have to continue to innovate to remain the number one choice. And and I know we will. So, I'm I'm very excited. >> More just um and I did change a little bit from the beginning because I knew Dr. Moore when he said that what he did say. And um I stopped by the office one day and Dr. more had the um superintendent um advisory council. Yeah. And whenever I see a bus and I see kids, I'm coming in to see what's going on. And he did talk about that saying, "What could we do to change this? What could we do better?" And you know, I started out with transportation because it does cost so much
081money. And we're looking to see, you know, get that money in the classroom and see what we can do to help there. But um you know, just let's be ahead of the curve. Let's see where we need to go. It is an opportunity and um I think this this team and this school district are are all in. >> Thank you. Anyone else want to comment on that? >> Yeah, I I do. >> Um Dr. Dr. Jones, I appreciate you putting this on um as a discussion item. uh but as we are discussing it I there was no description here so it was hard for me to come prepared um to engage in the conversation but now that I I hear what you are um presenting I just have some a question for you um I
082know what I hear is that there is a concern for our transportation cost um transportation is an underfunded mandate as it is >> um so what I'm questioning is what what was your original intent? Was it for us to have a discussion about how to reduce transportation in the in the district? >> No, I was just looking at reducing transportation costs in general. I know we're underfunded and I uh double check with Mr. Green. you know, we pay about five million a year from the district um for our total uh in transportation and uh just looking at way to cut costs so that as we move forward um if our enrollment doesn't increase or if it declines, you know, putting those costs in the classroom. So, just kind of looking at it um and see
083even and again, I' I've met with Senator Gall and expressed my concerns about several things. see what we can do to get even more funding from the state. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> So, yeah, I'll make >> Okay, Dr. Pasca. >> Yeah, I appreciate you bringing this up, Dr. Jones because it it has been a a topic of conversation um that we have had over the last couple years really um as a group in workshops um even though we really have not had specific items to address um kind of the projected uh potentially loss of students over time and how can we we respond to that? Um, but I I appreciate you bringing it up as a topic of discussion because it it is going to be something we do need to discuss and plan.
084Um, obviously, and I'm very glad that the superintendent is working on a plan. Um, it's one of the things that I ran on was that we needed to shrink the district, shrink administrative costs, um, because we were already in a big state of decline at that period um, three years ago, almost four years ago now. Um, and we've been talking about it over the last year or two. Uh, it's come up a number of times. Um, and and I don't know all the different things that we can do. I know there's a number of ideas on the table. Um, and one of the things I've offered a few times is um the discussion on efficiency efficiency uh experts um or forensic audits and things of this nature. um because it was very clear to me
085um three or four years ago that this district would continue to shrink and it would probably accelerate at some point and we don't really know where it will reach a steady state and then potentially in the future come back up and start growing again. Um so it was imperative to me that if this was going to be a successful district with high quality education, we had to get in front of the loss of students and become efficient. And the word of the day is flexible. Um because if you don't do that, you start hemorrhaging money at on an annual basis that if you had saved and invested and put to better use could have sustained you through those tough winters, through the loss of cash flow um that we are currently starting to experience across
086the state. Um so we have a lot of work to do on this topic. I'm sure we're going to have more conversations. Um, and this is kind of uh the official first one of them. >> Mr. Dyer. >> Yeah. I I think that transportation is probably uh emblematic of many other uh areas that we're going to have to uh really figure out in in the coming years. I mean, not only is that an unfunded mandate, there are more and more mandates, including vouchers that are basically unfunded uh for the uh for the public schools. I mean, now charter schools, which deserve capital, but their capital is now uh being uh for I think this year we're at 60% of their capital is on the uh is on the district where it was funded separately from
087the state. And I'll remind you that uh when they took away capital the last time in 2008, it wasn't till 2023 that we had the same amount of capital in this district that we had in 2008. >> Right. >> So there are more and more unfunded ma mandates that are really challenging public education. I agree with Dr. Pasta. I think that being efficient as a district is uh is very good. But you reach a point where you know you can do things better which is kind of incremental or you can do better things and that's exponential type >> challenge and I think that what the district is doing through innovation is really trying to redefine education putting the money the limited resources where it's going to make a difference where we get a bang for
088the buck where we are becoming efficient, but that efficiency leads us to greatness because we have a better focus and a stronger focus. That doesn't mean that in things like transportation, which I know is underfunded and cost a lot of money, we've still been responsive. I saw a letter from a parent to the board members recently within the last few weeks that talked about a special safety issue with a bus route that that affected their child and it was resolved. So, even with this, we were able to resolve it. I heard tonight about kids having to walk two miles to get to a to a particular station. I'm sure I I hope we noted that and I would bet we would get a resolution. Uh but again, you know, to have a focus on innovation
089and a focus on re reinventing education is not all bad. The more efficient we come and the more that we can put dollars where they're going to make the biggest difference, the better off we are. So, I look forward to that. >> Okay. All right. I just wanted to make a point. Um I think you've done a really good job of um kind of navigating us through all this squeeze. Um price of everything has gone up. Um our employees need salary raises. That's happened. And yet still we've done that despite everything that else is going on. I know it's just going to get more and more of a pinch. And I know a lot more of the school boards across the state of Florida and across the nation are dealing with the same thing. Um,
090but I think we're in a pretty good situation and I I appreciate the fact that you've put us there. So, I'd like to say thank you and kudos to your team for that. >> All right, we are to schoolboard member matters. Uh, would there like to be someone that would like to go first? >> I will. >> Okay, I'll go first. >> Oh, you got Mario. >> Oh, Mr. Rosario. Go ahead. >> Oh, okay. Um, so I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at Pelican Island Classical Magnet School and what a sweet event that was. Um, I'm so excited uh because it was a great grand opening. Um, I wish everyone could have been there. Uh, you could feel the excitement, you could feel uh the energy. Um, and just the rebranding alone. So, Dr. more.
091I will certainly make sure to sign that ribbon uh before you bring it over to Pelican because it really was a special event. Um I also wanted to um give a special thanks to everyone. I know Dr. more you included it in your um opening presentation. Uh but I wanted to just offer another thanks for all of our schools and all of our uh district staff uh for putting together all of the events that happened um uh to honor the tragic events of 911. that you all know it's it's a very special day for me uh very sentimental day I should say um as it is for many millions um of of Americans and um it's just something that I'm glad we have come to a place where it is honored and it it is
092um well understood that we are going to make that day extra special. Uh, and that instruction is going to be guided to teach children who may not ever really understand and maybe even their parents um what it was like um during the events of 911. So, I'm glad that we have that day of remembrance, but I do hope that it's not just a one-day event just in general. I hope that some of these events will go on um so that we don't wait until 911 to remember them. Um I'd like to ask um our superintendent a question with regard to I know that uh it was mentioned earlier and I know that some of these conversations have been coming up in a lot of district circles regarding uh Turning Point USA. Um Dr. Dr. Moore,
093are you aware of any students who may have requested at this point to open a um TPDUSA at any one of our high schools? >> So, am I we did speak with principles regarding the opportunity to to create and gave them the the authority to do so at at the request of students. So, um I don't know that there's been a request from a a student. Um, but our principles stand ready to to provide that support if needed. >> Okay. I just didn't know if any students came forward. I know that it was um obviously an incredibly um awful, horrific thing that happened to Charlie Kirk. Um, my heart and my prayers are with his wife and children and everyone uh directly affected at TPUSA um for the events and even those people who watched
094it online. It was tragic. Um, but I'm glad that we are in a place where we are going to leave the door open and welcome for students to open up a chapter of uh, Turning Point USA if indeed they want to. studentled groups are welcome in the school district of Indian River County and uh we just want to be able to support students in that effort and I'm glad that Florida Department of Education is also on the same page as is our attorney general um towards this end. Um and with that said uh I am done with my announcements. >> Dr. Jones. >> Yep. >> Been to several football and volleyball games. Everybody is looking good. The ribbon cutting cere ceremony at Pelican Island Classical School was really a great event. Thank you very much
095to Principal Justice and her staff. Uh the event at Sebast River High School for 911. I think I've made every one of them since they started those and uh very very powerful. Thank you to the fire department, first responders, sheriff's department. Um for my committee's executive roundt, been working on bylaws and governance and they just became a moonshot partner. Uh economic development council working on strategic plan and of course the people who work with you want to know what kind of schools we have and I always say great. Uh parent engagement, the mental health collaboration had a a session on Saturday dealing with neurode divergent children. It was excellent. um the Laura writing Jackson writing camp on Friday they recognized 30 35 students uh I think 30 of them were from our public schools middle
096schools um I talked about the superintendent's advisory council that seemed like a very very dynamic group and I want to share one thing I share with Dr. more and I think um Miss Finnegan and Lenny Jenowski, I was at the volleyball game at Vero Beach High School last week coming out of the restroom and out of outside of the gym and I heard the Star Spangled Banner and I stopped and there were five young men who happened to be football players that were standing there with their hands over their heart and young one young man was holding the phone that had a flag on it so they could salute the flag. Afterwards, I congratulated them. I told them who I was. I shook their hands and then um share that with Lenny Janowski the ad.
097I said to make sure that they tell them that I was so very very proud. You know, teenagers, high school, middle school, sometimes we hear not as good things as we should, but I thought that was powerful and that was a great message for our school district. >> Thank you, Mr. Dyer. >> Uh yeah, I have uh several comments. So, one that I visited, two schools, and I guess this gets back to one of your pillars in leadership. Uh, two schools that uh were a schools last last year that had a leadership change. And it was interesting to me to to go and see just uh how those schools were doing this year. And, you know, it was terrific. I didn't feel that they were missed a beat. So th those were Vero Beach Elementary,
098the moonshot school and uh Beachland Beach a school 90% literacy. What's going on there? Now I did notice in the school improvement plan that they need a little help in the math scores. They didn't quite achieve the 90% I would say by far with us in their school improvement >> lowest 25% but they plan. >> So that that's uh that was good. But, you know, the leadership part, I also noted that I think we opened school. When I asked you, you said we only had one opening and that was filled by a full-time substitute. I don't know how it is a few weeks later, >> but when I look at it, the nice thing that I've seen in this district over the last few years is it's beginning to build a bench. You have terrific
099talent. You have a place where people want to come to work because they can they can really perfect their craft and do good things and make a difference in in kids' lives and in their own life as we saw from the teacher of the of the uh year to today in the kids' appreciation for what a teacher does for them. I thought it was just remarkable. Second thing I wanted to talk about was this upcoming event for the school district. really celebrating again everything that's happening. This is going to be on Thursday night the uh 2nd celebrating uh this national documentary that has been done on this public private alliance and the success that this district has had in literacy. Just remarkable. We're now tied for second in the state at 71% uh the kids
100reading in third grade at third grade level which is absolutely fantastic. We have a goal to be number one. We're making great progress and we've done things and when you look at it I mean I looked at Vero Beach Elementary, what was it five years ago was an F? Five, six years ago was an F. >> Probably six or seven. six or seven years ago is an F. Last year, an A. >> They had two classrooms in that school that were 90% literacy. >> And overall as a school achieved 70 71 or 72, I can't remember. 7 I think it was 71%. >> I think they were 71, but the three years ago they were 38. >> 38, right? >> Which is unbelievable. So things are making a difference and I think this thing on
101on uh on Thursday night and then I understand that it's also going to be shown again as part of the distinguished lecture series uh in uh sometime this spring and when is it? >> February >> in February. Uh so we'll probably we'll expose so many people into the community to the great things that are going on in in this school district and the community. And the last I'm just going to make a comment for what it's worth and it has to do with the state statute. Most people don't know, but the school board got a raise of $1,422 or 3% uh just which is done by statute happens automatically. I find it rather interesting that that's the way the government uh does it and the statute does it because I remember with excruciating detail discussing
102Dr. more in his uh salary and things that were going on. I I see every other salary coming up and it's interesting even though it's there that we don't have the public, you know, the the public has a chance to comment on school board several ways. one individually. They comment through the election every four years I guess or two years uh for uh every two years they have a chance to uh to comment on on person but corporately as a board we really don't ever get any real public comment about how this board is doing and I think that at least bringing it up or being to me having the light of day that there's an automatic that everybody in the state is going to do the same formula and do it the same way
103But there it is and nobody talks about it like we talk about every other salary. So it just seems like that corporately that there ought to be some accountability to the board as a corporate whole and how we're doing our job. Uh and that was uh that was my comment. >> Oh, I believe citizen input over the last few years you we've heard a lot of that um comment to school board members and how they're doing. Um I'm going to bring up a couple things. I I attended the ribbon cutting a few days after I had a pretty major surgery. Um I appreciate everybody that accommodated me for my handicap accessibility. Um it was wonderful and it was nice to see that everything's kind of moving along smoothly there and uh principal justice doing great
104job. um FSBA meetings. I have attended lots of different things because I'm on a few different um committees there and um I'm running the advocacy committee which is the largest committee for FSBA for the state um this year and so it's kind of been a big undertaking. Uh, one of the things that we're really looking at um two things and now you're on it for our board, but um has been VPK and the necessary uh funding that needs to happen for VPK and of course every year comes up and every year we're told it's too much money. Um but yet if you look at all of the research and you compare, you know, if you educate children really early and you compare that to maybe jail cells, you will see that those numbers are definitely
105um related. And so getting kids educated and getting them in school early is beneficial uh to the the whole community. So um that's one thing that we're kind of focusing on along with the platform and board members, you can comment on the platform. It's open. So, um, make sure you do that. Uh, Treasure Coast Community, um, um, TCCLG. I go down to that meeting in St. Lucy every month. I usually attend in person. Because of my surgery, I couldn't attend in person. I've been attending on teams, but anybody that wishes to go on the board, you're more than welcome to go. you're meeting with um county commissioners, city commissioners, um school board members, and um some other delegates from um like um legislators that are there along with um you know, South Florida Water District,
106things like that. And really interesting how uh when you bring four counties together and we have likeminded problems and like-minded issues, it's really great to kind of meet everybody and talk about it. So, you're more than welcome to attend those. I'm going to be attending on Teams for a little while. Um, also, I'm on zoning and planning. I haven't been able to go to a few meetings because of my issues as well. And, um, I'm hoping that we can get a representative from our school district to sit in on those meetings because they're they're they're important. Um, congratulations on the website design, Dr. Began. Thank you for that hard work. It's come out. The the only little tweak I'm going to tell you is it's hard to find the calendars. Um, I don't know if
107anybody's gotten back to you on that, but when you're on the um, phone and you're looking for the calendars for the school district, it happened yesterday. I was at a birthday party for my grandson and somebody asked me when s such and such was and I tried to find the calendar and I couldn't. So, I had a goo I had a search for it. So, that's the one one little thing I would say maybe for the mobile um user to to make it more accessible. Other than that, it's beautiful. Thank you for the integration that happened between that and everything um because there are a lot of pieces on that not just the website. Uh I was out of town for a couple weeks um traveling and then I of course was had surgery so
108I've been in my house for a little while and then I came out to get to go to the doctor's office and I saw the Jimmy Graves project and it was like I hadn't seen it in a couple weeks because of everything and I was just amazed at what it looks like and my husband commented that the design which I didn't even pick up right away with the design of the building looks like our logo and I thought that was really creative. I don't know if that happened be or was that just happened. >> I'd love to take credit for that, but I don't know. >> Okay. It was kind of neat that it it kind of matches our logo. So, um I don't know when our ribbon cutting is going to be for that
109playground, but I know some people have are begging to know when it's going to open. So, I can't wait for that to open. And, uh thank you all for um all the help that you've given to me for what I've gone through in the last couple weeks. And I will be going through again in the next couple weeks. So, um appreciate that. Yeah. Dr. Moore, superintendent closing. >> Uh, we do have so if all cabinet members can turn your mics on, please. It is Kelly. Mic on. >> It is Himey. >> Hime. >> Mic on. It is Doc's birthday. So, we want to do that at the end. Okay. >> We're going to sing her out. >> So, >> I'll count us in. Ready? One, two, three. >> Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to
110you. >> Happy birthday, Dr. Jones. >> Happy birthday to you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> That's it. That's the closing. >> That's your closing. Okay. Great. And I'd like to thank everyone for viewing or coming out this evening to our meeting. At this time, I'd like to adjourn the meeting. The time is 7:24.