001meeting meeting in the Joe N Idollet Jr. TEC. Today is Monday, November 17th, 2025. I'd like to call this meeting to order. The time is 6 pm. I ask that out of respect to everyone, please silence all electronic devices at this time. Please check check. Also, if you have any material you wish to share with any board member, Please give that to our executive assistant, Mrs. Moy. She's seated right here. All right. At this time, I'd like to call for the pledge of allegiance. It will be led by Vero Beach High School's Air Force Junior ROC Detachment 043 under the direction of Major Retired Dean Raddale and Senior Master Sergeant Retired Shawn RDE. Please stand. left face to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One
002nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Order. Right face forward. March. [applause] Thank you to our students. They always do a great job. We appreciate that. Um board members, at this time I'd like to call for a moment of silence. On November 13th, this community lost a pioneer. Victor Hart, Senior, passed away at the age of 94. Mr. Hart devoted his life to strengthening the Gford community and expanding opportunities for others. He led the Indian River County NAACP, guided countless local efforts to support families, and earned the respect of leaders across the county. In 2017, the community honored his legacy by renaming Gford Park as Victor Hart Senior Community Enhancement Complex, recognizing his decades of service and advocacy. His life reminds us of the power of commitment, courage, and steady leadership
003in shaping a stronger community for future generations. Please join me in a moment of silence as we honor the life and legacy of Victor Hart Senior. Thank you. All right, board members, we are to uh adopt the orders of the day. Um before I ask for that, um Dr. Moore, there was an item that was um discussed at workshop today that would be possibly um pulled from the agenda unless it wasn't amended. Was it amended? It was amended and the update the agenda has been updated. >> Okay. [snorts] So, I'm going to ask for adoption of the orders of the day as amended. Are there any items board me board members wish to move from consent to action or add to the discussion? Seeing none, um we're going to go ahead and call for the
004motion to accept the adoption of the orders of the day as amended. >> So, move. >> Second. >> Dr. Jones and Dr. Pusca. All those in favor say I. I. >> Anyone opposed? It passes 5-0. Thank you. We are to the superintendent report. I recognize Dr. Moore. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. We will pull up the presentation. It has been a very very busy month. There it is. Uh so let's quickly review um all the activities that took place from this year uh last board meeting to this one. October 29th, immediately following our last the had the opportunity to celebrate the flag designer winner for city of Felsmere. Absolutely outstanding. Uh we had the rescheduled homecoming parade. You can't see me, but that's me in that teeny tiny car um in the passenger seat. So
005I did have a cramp after that, but it was a really really great parade. Uh also that is me serving some coffee at the um other facility. uh just kind of celebrating all the work that everyone in this district does. And this is our Ann Frank exhibit which is done by and taught by our students both at on November 5th and November 13th at each of the two high schools. If you have not been to that, I would mark your calendars for next year. um had the opportunity November 5th and 6th to uh speak and have a forum with the other superintendent of the year. Um as a finalist had the opportunity just to engage in some dialogue about the work that we're doing here in the school district of Indian River County. An absolute
006um great time to share the work that we are doing. Um and then a number of community events we're talking through the innovation project uh that we are we are in. We've done it pretty much every night uh or day. Veterans Day uh we had the salute to veterans on November 11th. Uh heard a great message from Haimeia Berte, our our director of security and safety where he motivated and inspired all those students that you see at Storm Grove in that picture. Uh and then coffee and conversation. Uh showed up at a Dunkin Donuts and just had the opportunity to engage with whoever was there. Had a nice crowd. about 24 25 people just stayed uh and listened uh to the work that we're doing. Great initiative and looking forward to doing more of those
007as we move through the month. And then uh me me and Jake were hanging out November 11th. Uh [laughter] not really um at our first playoff game where Vero Beach won and will be playing again uh this upcoming Friday. And this is the Bar Association uh membership for Indian River County. Once again, just another opportunity to provide an update um to that association regarding the work that we're doing here in the school district. And then just this past Saturday, it was the Sphero uh kickoff classic. Uh just kids having a great time programming and learning and highlighting uh the work that they do each and every single day. Just an absolute great thing to see. And then um surprise opening um act at the Jake uh Owens concert where the Vero Beach band actually came
008out and kind of brought that concert to the very very beginning by performing. It was really really cool to see our students at that concert. And that is our update uh for this past month. >> Thank you sir. At this time we're going to move to our citizen input. Okay, our public input. So these are the procedures for public input according to the schoolboard policy 0169.1. During regular business meetings of the board, the board offers the following two opportunities for the public to provide input. one on an agenda item that's consent agenda and or action agenda item 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 of you watching, please understand that though we have established proper decorum and
009expectations of professionalism when it comes to the individuals who wish to provide public input. This is a live broadcast. Each individual member shall be allotted for up to three minutes during public input and for up to three minutes on an item on the consent agenda and or action agenda as indicated in the order of business as it exists at the time the meeting starts. 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 speakers form are allowed to address the board. Individuals may not delegate their allotted time for others individuals to speak during the meeting. If an item is moved from consent agenda or discussion agenda to the action agenda, individuals will have the opportunity to speak to the
010item prior to the vote on 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 setting. As board members listen to individuals without interruption, individuals are asked to give board members the same courtesy. Board members may or may not address any individual statements at the end of the public input comments. I will be recognizing calling up the 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 the line to speak. The executive assistant to the school board will be the official timekeeper and the time shall
011start when the speaker is at the podium. As you see, the time clock is visible to your left on the dis and you will hear a beep at the end of your three minutes. If you have any qu anything you'd like to give board members or the superintendent, please do that through our executive assistant, Mrs. Moy. She's seated right here. All right, we have several speakers. Pull up the first one. We have seven speakers tonight. All right. Um Margaret Murray is our first speaker and Susan Stler is on deck. Good evening. My name is Margaret Murray, vice chairman of the education champions. Earlier today, I attended the superintendent workshop and I left truly impressed. I saw a leadership team that is innovative, forwardthinking, and deeply committed to addressing enrollment challenges and planning for the future
012of public education here in Indian River County. The work being done behind the scenes is remarkable and it deserves recognition. And this is American Education Week, a week meant to honor our educators, our students, and the public schools that are the backbone of our community. Yet, here in Florida, we are facing an unprecedented assault on those very schools. Every year brings a new attempt. vouchers, the so-called schools of hope, and whatever else the governor and the legislature decide to roll out next to dismantle, disrupt, and ultimately destroy our public education system. As a taxpayer, I'm angry. I am frustrated that more voices, especially from within the educational community, are not speaking out loudly and clearly against these egregious actions. Silence is not neutrality. Silence is surrender. And we cannot afford to surrender our public schools.
013The school of hope entering our community is a perfect example. They are arriving with no students. Yet they will immediately begin relying on our resources, our infrastructure, our transportation grid, our taxpayer dollars. And where are we thinking their recruiting efforts will target? Right here. Our families, our classrooms, our teachers, our students. How long before they start poaching the very educators we are struggling to attract and retain? It is outrageous. It is predatory. And it is unacceptable on every level. Tonight, I'm calling on the parents of this district, those who believe in strong, stable public schools, to organize, to stand together, and to speak out. We cannot sit quietly while a takeover of our schools unfold in plain sight. Public schools belong to the public. If we don't protect them, no one else will. Thank you.
014Okay, thank you. Susan Stler is next. Thomas Kenny is on deck. Good evening. As an advocate for publication for public education, I am in awe of this district. The accomplishments Thank you. the accomplishments, dedication and expertise of both administration and staff are truly exceptional. To believe in school choice and welcome the challenge of being the best so that our schools are the choice made by parents is awesome and inspiring. Despite an A rating, our state continues to drain district dollars, seemingly an attempt to weaken public education. Examples are vouchers and schools of hope funding. My question tonight is the state's newly adopted vision for education another threat to public education. The Phoenix Declaration authored by the Heritage Foundation and a part of project 2025 is the Florida State Education Board of Education's vision for education.
015Heritage Foundation President Robert's words when introducing the Phoenix document suggest a message and agenda beyond the motherhood and apple pie words that are in it. Choice quality contentrich fostering fostering good true and beautiful and even achieving full god potential. Uh and in President um Robert's introduction then he says it's time to go on the offensive. School leaders, educators, schoolboard members and policymakers need to set shared unshakable principles to reclaim education and put students not leftist activism first. Rather a partisan statement in three minutes one can only bring attention to the document. It is important to go beyond much of the seemingly harmless language uh to how the tenants translate the actual meaning now and into the future for students, schools, our culture, and our country. The declaration, our state's vision for education ignores pluralism and
016diversity as American virtues and values. The document threatens to censure history and uses parental choice as a cover for censorship. It challenges historical integrity by narrowing what is acceptable in teaching and approach. Who determines what is true and what is beautiful? Who determines what is fad? My concern. How will the adoption of the Phoenix Declaration as Florida's vision for education change how and what is taught in our public schools? Thank you. >> Thank you. Thomas Kenny is next. Tammy Stelter is on deck. How y'all doing this evening? Hope everybody's well. I'm here to talk about the desegregation order and the meeting particularly of November 4th uh where your lawyer was accused of lying publicly very publicly by uh committee member Mawn Green. [snorts] She told Matt uh Matt Carson essentially, "Let's not lie, Matt. The
017law in theory that's how it operates, but in reality, that's how it doesn't operate." Which didn't make any sense because I don't think uh when people are losing an argument, they like to say things are theoretical because they've never actually attempted to uh put the practice of equality into action. And that's what was going on here. Um, it's getting ridiculous and the sheer fact and I want to say this to all of you if you watch these meetings and those of you who are participated in them, um, that there's not good faith discussions going on centered around the KPIs. Mr. Carson pointed that out repeatedly. uh their lawyers uh the NAACP's lawyers sought to use it as a courtroom with cases where in a normal courtroom there would be discovery and you guys would know
018exactly what they were talking about in terms of these uh students that were disciplined on the transportation system. Terry will know because she's the board rep there and she could fill you in. But the reality of it is you guys had no idea what they were talking about these cases. You had a sense, you heard about it, but you didn't get to as a committee side to dial in and hear what was actually going on with those cases and what were the outcomes and the things that they had complaints about. It was rude and it showed no good faith whatsoever. This is important. this contract thing that's going on. I know it was mandated by a court originally in 1994. It's not working. It's not working at all. You're still waiting to go to mediation
019on the previous points and that was on uh the the teacher mentorship program. Uh Tony Brown accused people at the 3220 mark employees of lying and alterating and manipulating process of hearings regarding discipline and mer said without the person being president I don't want to accuse Mr. heart. I mean, you're accusing people of manipulating stuff and not giving you guys the case in which they're talking about. This has to stop. >> Thank you, sir. Tammy Stelter is next. Nicole Campanelli is on deck. >> Thank you. I'm here tonight to um talk about policy 5223. I have been trying to contact members of this organization since May. Yes, since May. I've tried phone calls, emails. I've tried having our headquarters office in Ohio contact you. I've had one conversation, one with Kelly Bisura, which was very
020brief. She asked for some information which I sent to her immediately, which was irrelevant basically to the the policy here. And once again, I on follow-up attempts, I got zilch. Um, I I would really like to find out how to work with this organization to implement a policy that you've had on your book since 2013. And the very first line of that policy says, it is the policy of the school board to cooperate with those parents who wish to provide religious instruction for their children. We have tried having the parents initiate this as I was instructed and I recently got an email that says take my son out. The magnet school said they are not affiliated and would not approve of an outside program. Now you'll notice the very last line of this policy says
021that they will not discourage or encourage anything. They're going to be neutral. Well, telling children they can't participate in something or their parents is definitely not being neutral. I've had anything but cooperation and and I don't know where to go without escalating it. I don't want an adversarial relationship with this organization. We want to benefit the children, the teachers, the administrators, the schools, the families, communities. This is a win-win. This is a school district that's that's bleeding participation like crazy, apparently. And this is one of the options in a multiaceted response to that that could really help people. Families would, you know, participate. It's optional. Nobody's forced to do anything. But there are families that would see this as a benefit to this school district. They would gladly keep their children here if they could
022enroll him in policy number 5223's program for release time for religious instruction. So, I I I'm kind of stumped. To me, every time I hear a no, it's simply because people don't have enough information. They need to understand how it works. But I can't help anybody understand how it works if I can't even have a conversation with somebody. I've even emailed uh somebody at this board to try and find out what the policy or the form F1 5223 F1 is referred to in the policy that parents are supposed to fill out. And once again, I get no response. I I just don't understand. If you're looking for ways to maintain student population, one of the best ways is listen to your constituents. Listen to your parents. This is something they want. I wouldn't be here
023if there wasn't a whole bunch of parents who had signed up to promote this program to this level in this county. Every county in Florida is basically going this direction. So, thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from somebody. Thank you. Nicole Campanelli is next. Heather Askin is on deck. >> Hello. Um, so I can't be the only parent who's deeply concerned with the proposed time changes, especially as a single parent. Uh, my son and I chose Gford Middle School. He's thriving in seventh grade, taking high school honors classes, and he was just accepted into National Honor Society. Um my youngest is is in kindergarten at Ocula Magnet. So if the school start times change to match K through 8 and then the middle schools I along with count
024with others I'm sure um I understand we're going to be uh have a big impact. I understand why you're considering this change but I'm sure like myself to pay for before care as well as afterare so that everybody be can be on time to school the schools that we chose. It's unattainable as a single parent w with limited resources financially and it's not feasible. Um I won't jeopardize Vinnie what my seventh grader has accomplished and it wouldn't be fair to him to change him back to Ocola magnet but I physically cannot get him to Gford and then him to Oyola for them to both be on time next year. So I am just asking the board to explore other options because this change um would be impossible burden for single parent households like myself. [clears
025throat] So I appreciate you for listening this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you. Heather Asin is next. Arlene Jameson will be our last speaker. >> Hi Heather Asin. I'm an education champion and uh advocate for public schools. >> Can you turn the mic toward you better? >> There you go. I'd like to congratulate our school board for making lemonade out of lemons by working with less money and making more out of it. Thank you for giving our over 14,000 students the time and consideration when consolidating our schools. Thank you to our administration, teachers, support staff that are understanding that these changes are necessary to keep our public school doors open. Public schools do not discriminate and there is a comfort in knowing that all children are welcome regardless of their race, creed, denomination, and learning
026needs. As we celebrate our school's astounding test results, we push ourselves um continuously to improve regardless of the extreme challenges of a small budget due to a voucher system that does not have a household income limit or accountability for academic performance. We have a school board that can bob and weave its way through it and but you have your hands full. Just as we start to have some hope that we had turned the corner after celebrating the amazing test scores, school A ratings and district state ratings, another type of hope showed up. The school of hope. rather than go through all that that entails for the school of hope private charter school that is state and locally funded in addition uh to take over a portion of all the sele they will take over potentially
027a portion of a school or an entire school of our county. I asked the board, "What do you feel the objective is for the voucher system and the school of hope? Apart from the obvious parental choice when it comes down to it, is there a state agenda to privatize our public school system? How will the Phoenix declaration effort uh affect our local schools? Also, our governor is suggesting to eliminate property taxes. How will this work? How will we work with this?" I encourage everyone who is listening to please do their due diligence and research the Mater Academy. Don't bother looking up for the school reviews because the review option is turned off on the Google searches for each school. Research the founder and president for Nan Zuleta and Academica uh a pro uh a for-profit
028education management company uh worth over hund00 million which Mr. Zuleta is the founder and CEO of this company works with Mater Academy research. The Heritage Foundation since we are the first state to embrace the Phoenix Declaration. From what I've read, the Heritage Foundation advocates for policies that critics describe as a plan to privatize public education by redirecting public funds. Thank you. >> Thank you. Arlene Jamson is our last speaker. Good evening. [clears throat] We were we were fortunate to have Dr. Jacobs speak to us last week and explain the intricacies to combat the schools of hope invasive takeover of our classrooms. [clears throat] Oh, whoops. I meant co-allocating in our schools. sounded like a complicated puzzle of who goes where when, but I'm glad to see some of the schools combining, allowing students to participate
029in sports and the arts. I'd like to tell you how things were back in the stone age when I was in school. Our schools were K through 12, and there was something very comforting knowing where your home was for the next 13 years. Elementary school kids looked up to those in junior high, and they in turn looked up to the senior high kids. Plus, there were far fewer transportation costs and an economy of scale. But what was so outstanding was that elementary school activities were plentiful, as were junior and senior high. 7th through 9th graders had junior varsity sports, competitive with other schools, plus intramural sports. We had junior band, junior orchestra, chorus, theater, clubs, etc. Senior high had all the above, plus more. We had a great library before books were banned, terrific language
030labs and so on. When the school became full, they just built another one. Of course, times have changed. IRC students have incredible opportunities now in science, culinary arts, dual enrollment, and all the other inventive paths they can pursue. I certainly don't need to tell you about them, but I do think there's something to be said for combining grades when possible. The new K through8 curriculum, a perfect example. Besides the obvious advantages, older kids leadership, helping hands, and setting positive examples all rub off on their younger counterparts, hopefully. Maybe in 2027 or 8, all our schools will be at full capacity and still getting A's. And in case there's an empty school left over after the reorganization, you can sell it for a profit, just not to the schools of hope. Just a final note, as
031a member of the opera guild, I support a class act which brings opera to the classrooms. There's a really charming highlights video of the kids at Felsmere and Beachland elementary schools putting on the opera. Hansel and Gretle. From sets to costumes, instruments, and performing, you can never start. I'm too young to appreciate opera. If anyone wants to see it, I can get you a copy. Uh, thank you as always for giving us the opportunity to speak out our minds and for doing everything that you all do. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Moore. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, speakers. Um, I don't want to butcher your name. Stelter, Miss >> Someone from my office will reach out to you tomorrow and you can speak directly with me and then we'll have that
032conversation and and determine what the next steps are. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Um, thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Yeah, Mr. Zarya. >> Yeah. Um, Dr. Moore, will you follow up with us on that, please? Um, if you can send us an email because um um I I did a word search for your name. I did not receive any email, you know, as far as this uh board member is concerned. So, I do apologize um for that, but I may have missed it unless it's under a different name or a different email, but that's okay. We don't have to get into that now. I just wanted to acknowledge um your concern and I think that um this policy seems to be uh pretty old policy, but it's still our policy. And
033I'm sure Dr. more will um follow up appropriately so that um the school and the district will be able to accommodate you and any other parent who has these this um this request because we should um the other thing Dr. Moore I noticed that Miss Campanelli has just stepped out. Um I suppose that we're going to take care of that as well. I'm not sure if she is aware of the opportunity for busing. I didn't hear that in the concern. So, this is Go ahead. >> No, I think um as I was telling the board earlier today, every time we engage, we we learn. And I think she is in a unique situation where she's at a middle school and a K8 wall at the same time. So Beth is going to collect that information
034and we'll problem solve around probably a very unique where you have one child in a K in a K8 configuration but one of those two children is in a K5 space. So we we will problem solve. >> Yeah. So I I I this is a perfect example of um as much as we can do to reach out to the families as possible um and and then go beyond that as well because sometimes you know with all the communication that we do have um and all the information that goes out to those two families uh on focus and through the schools it's still we're not reaching everyone obviously. Um, and this is a perfect example of how maybe I'm not sure maybe she doesn't know about the opportunity for busing um for uh school choice um
035as a school choice parent. And so um I'm glad that we're going to be able to take care of her situation. Um, I I I hope that all parents understand that if they have an issue or a concern or a question um that we will by all means um seek a solution to whatever their situation is because that's I know how that feels and that's that's hard to deal with. So, I'm glad that we're going to we're going to take care of that. >> Dr. Pasca. >> Yeah. In response to the comment about um 5223, policy 5223 um regarding absences for religious instruction, um I certainly hope we're following that policy and we have a way um to evaluate the situation and get to the bottom of it. Um we'll we'll have to look at
036it, but clearly policies have to be followed. So um and it you should not have to work hard to make that happen. It should be pretty easy. you should be able to just request it and it gets approved. There's really no uh discussion about it. It's you and your kid and it's your decision. So hopefully we will reach that point where that's what is happening. >> Anyone else? Dr. Johns, >> I just want to thank everyone for speaking tonight. You always listen and learn. Um if you watch the workshop, we had a great discussion about a lot of things, especially with schools of hope today. And we appreciate the support because all of us at the DS know that we're we have some big challenges out there, [clears throat] but it's going to take more
037than us to do something. And we appreciate the community support. We're working hard um because obviously funding is based on student enrollment, what we can do to consolidate, what we can do to innovate, and how we can bring our our community in. I think we're working very very hard on that. So, we appreciate you. And going back to this uh the policy for religious instruction, I'll just give you an example, but this was before this policy. It was 2009 when I [clears throat] was principal of Sebast River High School. Many many of my Hispanic students requested Our Lady of Guadalupe off and it was never an issue. The principal would sign it and you can move on. So I hope we take a look at this with our parents who um believe this is something
038that would be good for their children. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. And I just want to um reiterate that um I'm concerned that you said you reached out to the board member several times about your concern about this policy. Um we have an email that either goes directly to each one of us or there's one that you can um email all board members at the same time. I too did that search while you were talking to see, you know, why haven't I heard when you're frustrated and you're saying we're not getting a response. So I'm I'm a little concerned if you send an email why we didn't get it. So, we need to maybe troubleshoot that as well with you to make sure that we're getting the emails in a timely fashion. So, we appreciate
039that and hopefully you get this um rated right away. So, thank you for speaking. All right, board members, we are to our consent agenda. I'd like to call for a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended. >> So, move second. >> Dr. Jones and Mr. Rosario, any discussion on the consent agenda as amended? >> All those in favor say I. I >> I any nays? Okay. We didn't have um we had an item pulled, but are we discussing that item tonight or did you pull it totally off? >> This was approved. >> It was the the agenda was modified. >> So, we approved it as amended. Okay. That's I just want to make sure that you're not bringing it back up to us again. Okay. We are to our action agenda. Um action agenda
040A, appointment of a president, vice president, and secretary treasurer of the leasing corporation. Purpose of this action item is to officially designate the chair of the school board as president, vice chair of the district school board as the vice president, and the superintendent of schools as the secretary treasurer of the leasing corporation as per the bylaws of the corporation. Like to call for a motion to accept the president, vice president, and secretary treasure of the leasing corporation. >> So move. >> Second. >> Dr. Jones, Mr. Dyer. Call for the vote. All those in favor say I. I. I.................... Anyone opposed? >> That passes 5-0. >> Action agenda item 9B. Approval of appointment of a citizen to the Indian River County Metropolitan Planning Organization MOO County Citizen Advisory Committee CAC for Transportation and an alternate for
041this voting position. This is a volunteer position that began on September 11th, 2012. The term of this position coincides with the board's organization meeting and it is a voting position. The CAC meets the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in the county administration building B, conference room B1501. Last year the position was filled by Mr. Jeff Andros serving half a year and Mr. Michael Marsh alternate. Both members will vote on the citizen member and alternate positions. Um, we need to announce the names of the citizens that applied to serve as committee member or alternate. Dr. Moore, would you like to provide us with those names? Miss Dor Mo will do that. >> There we go. Um, we had one applicant and that was uh Mr. George Retaco. Right. >> That's good. >> All
042right. I need a motion. >> Motion. >> Oh, second. >> Dr. Pasca with Mr. Zario as a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Okay. It's asking for an alternate, but we did not have an alternate put in place. >> No, we did. Okay. >> Got it. All right. Sorry, I'm trying to get to that spot. Okay. All right. [clears throat] We are to action agenda 9C. And before I go further, let me go back to 9B a [clears throat] second just because I want to make sure. Okay. So we've um because it says read it into the record. So George Retio, is that how you say it? >> Retaco has been um voted on by this board. All right, moving on. Action agenda item C9C, approval
043of appointment of a citizen to the Indian River County School Planning Citizen Oversight Committee. Re interlocal agreement for public school planning for this voting position. Peter Robinson has served on this committee since its inception in 2003 as a citizen member and is interested in serving uh continuing to serve. Mr. Robinson submitted a brief summary. The purpose of the committee is to monitor implementation of the interlocal agreement and to report to p participating local governments the district school board and the general public on the effectiveness in which the interlocal agreement is being implemented and it is a voting position. The committee meets once per year on a date and time to be determined in conference room B1501. Board members will vote on the citizen member and the alternate positions. I'd like to ask for the names
044of those citizens that have asked to be um considered. We have um two applicants. Um first applicant is Mr. Peter Robinson who would like to continue serving and the second applicant is Nicole Garner. >> Okay. So, we have um two applicants that wish to serve. Um I need a motion. >> Like to make a motion for Nicole Gardner to be >> for each person. You need to make a motion. I'd >> like to make a motion for Nicole Gardner to be the primary and uh Peter Robinson to be the alternate. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. Okay. Any discussion? >> So, I chose to I mean obviously he has done an excellent job and it's certainly not a dis towards him uh and his service to our community. Hopefully, he doesn't
045interpret it as that, but um he has been doing it since 2003. Um so, I think it's it you know it behooves us not to give someone else an opportunity to participate in local government. um in reviewing her application, you know, she's a mother of five. Um she got her nursing degree and then she went back and got a master's in nursing and then she got a nurse practitioner degree. Um she worked for years in a hospital and then she started her own uh wellness um business. So she started her own business and she has five kids. I mean just she sounds like an amazing person. Um, I'd like to just give her an opportunity to do it and we'll see how long it, you know, they want to do it. But hopefully they can
046share and um maybe, you know, participate together somehow. >> Okay. Um, do I ask for a motion for the next one or after we vote? >> Where'd you go to high school? >> Do do I ask for a motion on the second person or after we vote? >> Okay. All right. Any other discussion? Pelican Elementary Sebastian. >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed say nay. >> Okay. It passes 5 for Nicole. >> And we'll ask Peter Robinson to be our alternate. Okay. >> All right. Action agenda item 9D, approval of appointment of citizen to the county commission's value adjustment board, VAB, for this voting position. The this is from Florida state statute 194.015. The value adjustment board is an independent forum created by the Florida statute chapter 149
047194 sorry to provide property owners with the opportunity to appeal their property value or denial of an exemption classification or tax deferral. The committee meets each year as needed in the county administration building A room A2511. Angie Shuffers was appointed by the school board last year and is interested in continuing to serve. The position is for calendar year tax cycle and it is a voting position. Board members will vote on the citizen member and alternate positions. Um please let us know she is the only applicant. Correct? >> Yes, she is. >> Okay. All right. So, I'm going to ask for a motion. >> So, move. I'll second >> a motion to move Angie Shepard's >> back. Okay. And we have um a motion by Dr. Jones and a second by Miss Rosario. Any discussion? >>
048All those in favor say I. >> I. Anyone opposed? >> And that passes 5-0. All right. Action agenda item 9E has been amended and that was um >> excuse me >> the policies. >> Yes. All our policies. So this item was presented at school at the workshop today in compliance with policy 0171 policy review policy review of policy 0131 legislative and chapter 120 of the Florida administrative code. Approval is requested to advertise and hold a public meeting for the proposed policies prior to adoption. This update reflects changes from 2025 Florida legislation and department of education guidance, state board rulemaking and nola client collaboration with a review of relevant federal and state laws and regulations, court decisions and attorney general opinions with revised in conjunction with Nola volume 26 number one update. The changes or updates
049include a total of 55 policies. 54 policies with revisions and one new policy is listed below. There was one policy I believe that was um pulled. Correct, Dr. Moore? >> It was >> revised based on board feedback. >> Revised. Okay. And for the record, what policy number was that again? >> 1420. Okay. All right. um call for a motion to approve uh a request to set a public hearing date to adopt the revisions to the school board policies as amended. >> So move >> second. >> Okay. Dr. Jones, Dr. Pusca. Any discussion? >> All those in favor say I. I. >> Anyone opposed? It passes 5-0. Action agenda item 9F discussion. Initial public hearing and approval of educational and operational innovation and efficiency planning initiative. Do I need to read all this? >> Bring it
050to me. >> It is an entire page. >> I don't know about that. >> That's a lot. >> Okay. At the school board business meeting held on October 27th, 2025, superintendent presented the recommendations for the district's operational innovation and efficiency policy initiative. After a robust discussion, the school board voted to wave or extend the de deadline and policy 5121 controlled open enrollment to extend the school choice application window to February 6, 2026 in order to provide families with sufficient time to make informed decisions pertaining to the anticipated presentation adoption of the rec of the associated reasonzoning and boundary changes. the school board operational innovation and efficiency planning initiative which includes a public hearing on November 17, 2025 and a special meeting and public hearing on December 17, 2025 to go through the rule making process
051in chapter 120 Florida statutes which governs the resoning and boarding determination process. As [clears throat] part of the operational authority, the superintendent presented the relocation or colllocation of the following schools. Vero Beach High School moving the ver Vero Beach Freshman Learning Center to unite with the main Vero Beach Center high school campus. Oslo Middle School relocation to the current Vero Beach High School freshman learning center facility. Oyola Magnet K8 School relocation to the current Oslo Middle School campus. Rosewood Magnet School relocation to the current Storm Grove Middle School facility. Sebastian Elementary School, the arts colllocation to the current Sebastian Middle School facility and IR prep colllocation to the current Treasure Coast Technical College. In accordance with board policy 5120 assignment within district and board and pursuant to the Florida statutes cited therein, the superintendent will
052recommend to the school board the attendance zone boundaries for the non-charter public schools within the school district. The procedures by which the board will adopt the attendance zone procedures for the school shall be in accordance with the requirements of Florida law. The board shall adhere to the rulemaking requirements set forth by by law 0131 and FS chapter 120 when creating or revising reszoning and boundary changes include the following sorry when revising school attendance boundaries. The schools that need school board approval for the recommended recommended resonian boarding changes include the following. Glendale Elementary School, Citrus Elementary School, Sebastian Elementary School of the Arts, Dodgertown Elementary School, Gford Middle School, Oslo Middle School, and Sebastian River Middle School, and Storm Grove Middle School. Attendance boundaries for various schools in Indian River County is the rule title. The
053purpose and effect this action implements the school board's power to assist students in schools and adopt school attendance areas as deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the school district system. Changes are being considered based upon a consideration of school capacity and the effective utilization of district resources as well as the district's operational innovation and efficiency planning initiative of copy of which is attached anyone can ask for. These strategic efforts reflect this district's commitment to a responsive and future focused system that provide highquality learning opportunities for every student. Staff has engaged in comprehensive analysis of boundary areas, enrollment trends, and facility capabilities to right side the system and support sustainable growth. The summary of the rule is that recommending changes to student attendance boundaries for students assignments within those current schools. Glendale Elementary, Citrus Elementary
054School, Sebastian Elementary School, Dodgertown Elementary School, Gford Middle School, Ozel Middle School, Sebastian River Middle School, Stone Storm Grove Middle School to be effective July 1st, 2026. And that is under lots of statutes. All right. At each meeting that was conducted, and there were several um town halls that were conducted and continue to be conducted, we have another one tomorrow and another one the day after. Correct. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. At each meeting, staff was and will be available to address the proposals and to respond to questions and or comments regarding the rule being developed. In other words, asking for citizen input. Public hearings on the final proposed rule has been scheduled for November 17th at 6 PM in the Joe N Joe Nen. >> The final proposed rule has been scheduled for November
05517th, 2025 at 6 PM in the Joe Nidellet Junior Teacher Education Center located at 6,500 57th Street, Bureau Beach 32967. It is [clears throat] anticipated that the final rule boundary changes will be adopted on December 17th, 2025 at 6 PM and a special meeting and public hearing in the Joan Idollet Junior Teacher Education Center located at 6500 57th Street, Vero Beach, which is where we are located right now. >> All right. I'd like to call for a motion for discussion, initial public hearing, and approval of educational and operational innovative and efficiency planning initiative. I make a motion. >> Second. >> All right. Mr. Zario, Mr. Dyer as the second. Any discussion? >> Madam Chair, just to um I think that was written by a lawyer. I'm not really sure, [laughter] but uh put that in
056the King's English. Uh this item will send a public hearing for the next o over the next month. We'll bring back this item in December 17th uh for final approval. So this is not a a approval. This is to send to public hearing. Uh specifically what we're doing is looking at the required um the requirements under law to change boundaries. We are changing the boundaries of all four middle schools ultimately eliminating the attendance boundary for Storm Grove Middle School which does not impact the current uh sixth and seventh graders. They will remain at that school. We had the opportunity to meet with both faculties as well as parents uh regarding this transition so they fully understood uh what the impacts would be which are absolutely minimal to none for sixth and seventh graders at Storm
057Grove. The boundaries which are are online the change in the boundaries uh allows um us to move to three specific middle schools. Uh currently middle schools sit at 54% capacity. We are adding uh a seventh grade next year within our four middle schools and then the following year an eighth grade at our four middle schools. Um so the >> middle schools or K8s >> K uh middle schools. Thank you. Um so the ability to have high >> K8s K. Yeah. Okay. >> Yes. Yes. what she said, the ability to have high functioning programming uh with schools around 45% capacity. The materials, the resources, the compensation for uh staff uh to fully function those schools at 45% capacity uh just isn't right by our students. It's not right by our staff um and it's not right
058um for the community as a whole. So, shifting to the three boundaries does a a number of things. improves enrollment at the middle school space um in terms of around 650 to 700 kids which is a nice size elementary school. Uh and even though you have a boundary 30% approximately 30% of our students function under choice meaning uh with these capacities will be around 80 85% you have the opportunity to choose into any one of the three middle schools. We will uh evaluate programming at the IB program at Sebastian River Middle School needs to be enhanced enhanced not only in the overall programming but strong connectivity in the K5 space at both um Sebastian Elementary School. Liberty already has the IB program and then as well at at Treasure Coast. Making sure there's a strong
059pipeline into those specific middle schools. Vero Beach Middle School, we will expand programming around entrepreneurship. We'll expand programming around the visual and performing arts as well as the athletic programs building strong connections and relationships with Vero Beach Senior High School uh who have some prize programs that a number of people in our community uh can't wait to get be involved in. So why not let them be involved in in them at an earlier age. Gford Middle School has a advanced programming. uh we're going to enhance that under the umbrella of additional gifted programming, strong gifted programming in the K5 space. Um but it shifts drastically in the middle school experience. So this is the opportunity to continue uh that way of instruction. The board had a great conversation uh this this morning around the innovations
060around middle school. That would be an example of one of those innovations that we will continue uh to to seek out. Tomorrow we have all of these teams coming together for a first initial meeting around problem solving. So, we continue to support that and we'll highlight the the conversations that we're having at our level uh to signify those change. Uh it moves the ninth grade center into the um the main building a they will fit. It will allow us to have better start times or more condensed start times. It'll allow one-third of the students not to be transported back and forth in between classes. um and it will allow our ninth graders higher access to the vocational programming at those particular schools. This item will accomplish the transferring of two of our magnet schools, Rosewood
061and Oyola, into middle school current campuses, which will be retrofitted and designed to be full K8s. Uh, bathrooms revised, playgrounds added, uh, elementary style furniture uh, in in place for the opening of schools. that allows us to expand the offering uh starting at kindergarten and growing out um for our parents that are being turned away each and every single year. So in doing this work, this isn't something that we shy away from. This is something that the entire system has leaned into in an absolute great way. We ensure that the uh it is fiscally responsible. uh running less schools uh allows us to have more resources uh with a stronger touch on salary and a stronger touch on the resources we provide to kids. Uh the initiative is um allowing us to provide choice for
062parents and creating just programming within the same configurations or the same flowing of of a school day periods 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 may not be what parents want. We need to have a um a portfolio of school schools that allow parents to match the school that meets their family's interest in terms of size, in terms of programming, in terms of flexibility. And that is the work uh that we've charged our our district to do. And I honestly believe uh that we are the district to do this. We are the district that has the relationships with our employees, uh, a level of trust to say we do not have all of the answers. Um, but we're willing to engage in conversations to figure out what the future of public education should look like,
063which means we're going to have to recreate job descriptions. There are some jobs um that are that are you know can can be done in a different style or a different fashion in which we can compensate one person a little bit more uh but shift or modify um redundant or outdated job descriptions. Some job descriptions written in 1967 and 1970. Uh look how the world has changed. Uh so to look at job descriptions and say this is the way that we've always done it becomes a disservice uh to those who were serving. Um but some of these CWA jobs because you guys are here I don't know enough about but you guys do >> and you can create the conversation uh on how it should look or what what should be done. Combine these two
064uh this person should be doing this or that. Um so sometimes as a leader you you just put people in the room you encourage them to to solve problems and then you fund the problems that they're solving uh with their unique ideas. So one of our um driving I don't know factors in here is that we create problem solvers at level every level of the organization and a lot of this work uh from once this item is approved until we open schools next year uh is empowering problem solving at le every level of the organization. So next week we or this week we have uh I have four more presentations. Uh we've I if you want to count this morning, I think it is now 19 uh conversations. Every single conversation has ended uh in
065a very very positive way. Uh the fact that we have so few parents here, uh so few educators here uh is not a see what I told you, you know, we're good. Uh we need to continue to push. We need to continue to engage in the conversation because ultimately uh this isn't something that we want to be done to Indian River County. This is something we want to do for Indian River County with Indian River County. So, Madam Chair, that that is the item. >> Question. >> Thank you. Board members, discussion. >> Oh, just a question. Dr. Moore, the December 17th meeting, will that be at 6 PM? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Mr. Rosario, >> um yeah, Dr. Moore, you you mentioned um Vero Beach Middle School. I know that you um have an
066interest in in holding on to that name. Uh but community members don't necessarily know uh Vero Beach Middle School yet. Uh so I just wanted to um give you an opportunity to explain that that is actually Oslo and that we haven't actually gone through a rebranding or a renaming yet. So Oz correct a Oslo in terms of a a a rebranding and accelerated programming moving that current location OO into the um the Flick which is a middle school building that had been designed and then it's great >> building strong connections with the high school programming >> and calling and if the selected name would be Vero Beach Middle School because we haven't actually gone through that process yet. Um that would be a a a nice uh p pathway for Vero Beach Elementary School students
067to join Vero Beach Middle School and then um Vero Beach High School. So we have little Indians and we'll have Fighting Indians. What will we have in in between? >> That's a problem for uh the people who are much closer to those kids to solve. So uh we're starting to engage with them tomorrow. Um I don't know if it will be that answer would happen before school starts. uh maybe towards the the end of of the school year, they'll do some of that marketing and advertising. Um and part of this process really is, you know, I think the the conversation the board had today around middle school and innovation, uh we're were we're were great ideas and we will kick off a process of saying this really is a school system where we're not saying
068go and do this, but engage in these crazy conversations about what it possibly could be. Um, and based on the work that you do over the next several weeks and and months, I may have to go back to the school board and say, "Hey, our our design thinking groups, our our principal leaders, our teacher leaders want higher flexibility around seat time to do more innovative programming. Uh, they want more flexibility around uh state adopted curriculum um based on some of the things that they want to do." And we'd have to go and and advocate um for that or the the structure of the school day. So this is a at the core uh a community initiative uh in which we're trusting our educational leaders, our support staff at every level to design something uh that
069uniquely meets the needs of all of the children in our community. >> Okay. Any other discussion? I just like to say thank you to your team for all this hard work. Um I attended uh the town hall that was at Citrus. Um but it was about Glendale parents or for Glendale parents. So it was kind of interesting. Um it's nice that we're listening, not just telling because I heard it. I heard parents with concerns and uh those were immediately dealt with or question what can give me more information. So, um it isn't just a we're telling you this is what's happening. It's a we want input and I think that's important because it is it is the community um that drives what our schools do. And so, not just us, not just you, but it's
070a community effort. So, we really appreciate that. Um it was nice for parents to come out and give us some input. We appreciate that. All right. Um, so I'm going to call for a motion for initial public hearing and approval of educational and operational innovation and efficiency planning initiative. >> Public, >> do you have public input? Hold on one second. I got to call for the motion and then we'll have the speaker. >> You do. >> Okay. >> All right. >> No, that was it's not a consent. >> No, I did a first and a second. Yes, I did. Sorry. Orion Dyer. I already got that. Um, that was before the discussion. So, you're right. I did do it. Okay. Now, we're opening up. We have one speaker that has asked to speak. >> Um,
071in this sense, because it's a public hearing, can we open it up to any other speakers? Yes. So, anyone that wishes to speak, you didn't have to fill out a form because this is what we call a public hearing. So, at this time, we'll ask the person that filled out the form to come first. Thomas Kenny. >> I was under the impression it was a vote to have a public hearing. Anyway, [laughter] now um I just want to say that uh Jennifer Pippen couldn't be here tonight from Monster Liberty because her son's birthday today. So, >> happy birthday to Hunter. But, uh Dr. more. Thank you for what you guys are doing and and your staff and the way you guys are working with speed and with clarity and as much transparency as you can
072possibly do in a 24-hour day because I know this takes a lot of time and effort and we are just excited about what you're doing because it there's an overall picture to this. It's not just the process and all the laws and dotting your eyes and crossing your tees legally, which Miss Invol will probably help you do with great expertise, but it's the uh the ability now to actually offer educational choices and um curriculum and different types of things that other public school systems are not offering. and helping uh homeschool community people. You and I talked about addressing places and and needs where they might not be so good, but they could come into our schools and do those higher AP courses and stuff where a mother might not have that type of skill and
073all these different things that you've been talking about. So, I really think this is good. I am very happy uh on for Liberty is very happy about what you're doing and putting kids first and doing all these things that you're doing right now. It's it's inspiring to watch and thank you very much. >> Okay. So, I know this is an initial to set the public hearing. So, can I ask for other speakers or not? Because >> this is initial. >> That's what I thought. That's why we're here. >> Okay. Is there anyone else that would like to speak to this topic? All right. Seeing none. Um, any other discussion, board members? >> Good. >> No. All right. I call for a vote. All those in favor of setting a public hearing for December 17th, 2025
074at 6 PM for a special meeting, say I. >> I. Anyone opposed? That passes 5-0. All right. We do not have any discussion items. And at this time, I call for school board member matters. Who would like to go first? >> I'll go first. >> Mr. Rosary. >> Um, yeah. I just wanted to um remind the public that our code of conduct community and parent meeting will be here in this building on Tuesday, December 9th at 5:30 p.m. It is incredibly important for the community to get involved um and for your input. our code of conduct has changed over the years because of your input and I think it's really really important that um if you are available uh you come to that meeting and um you can participate. Uh the other thing I came
075to the district's Thanksgiving lunchon um on Friday and it was very very fun. It was incredibly nice. A nice little um barbecue outside. Everybody enjoyed their annual Thanksgiving lunchon um and it was just wonderful. So uh there is another town hall regarding all of the changes that we are uh as a community experiencing and and and we are going to um see happen with our schools. Uh tomorrow there is the North County town hall that will take place at Sebastian River Middle School at 5:30. So I just wanted to announce that. And then on Wednesday 11:19 at 5:30, the next meeting will be at Vero Beach High School. So, if you have not had an opportunity to attend one of the town halls and you are interested, please by all means, um you are welcome
076to come to any of those town hall meetings. Um, I know that it we are past the date, but I just wanted to um publicly give a thank you to all of our veterans um in the school district and of course in our community uh and make sure that you all know that I honor your service and your sacrifice and your family service and sacrifice as well. Um, and I'm I'm grateful for all of the veterans who serve our country. And with that said, I hope everyone has an incredible happy Thanksgiving. >> Okay, Mr. Dyer. >> Uh, yes. Uh, two things happen is I I I want to again comment and congratulate the district on how well you guys have communicated these changes that we're really having to go through. I mean, first, you have
077recognized that change is coming. uh the the finances uh from the state have really changed the way that schools operate the voucher program and uh this new schools of hope uh you need to get ahead of it and I think that what you guys are doing has been very thoughtful. I know you've been working on it for about a year. Uh knowing that knowing that things are are coming at least knowing that we had to do something maybe not specifically what but beginning talking about it and I think that uh what you've done and the way that you've handled it has been very good. Uh I did attend the uh the meeting at uh uh Rosewood and uh Magnet and uh was very interested in hearing the comments there and I think there were good
078comments. There were some things that were uh that that were uh some some objections, a lot doing with transportation, but I think some of the things that you did were very innovative and thoughtful about having a depot and having ways that you can drop people off and actually uh meeting with the parents and understanding their needs and concerns. But one of the thing that came through to me in not only in that school but in from what I've understood in many of the schools that that that you guys have talked with is everybody loves their school and they want to make sure that that culture is maintained as we go into new facilities and that the community that they have through that school is maintained. So I I think that that's something that we really
079have to be aware of as we move forward and uh and make sure that the strong culture and the community and the love of your school of your individual school uh is really what matters to you and that we maintain the this spirit of that as we move facilities uh and I think really expand programs, expand off offerings and align our uh curriculum uh more uh all the way through uh elementary school, middle school, and high school. The other thing that we did is I accompanied the superintendent and a group to Tallahassee to talk with the legislature about uh the actually the head of the education uh committee uh and speaker Kennedy uh about some of the issues that we have being an a school district. You know, this this district has been a high-erforming
080academic school district. Has led the state for over the last three years in terms of improvements. Had been an A school district three years in a row. Uh has gone from 38th to fifth in the state out of 67 districts. Is now tied for second in the state in terms of literacy. Uh we have gone to 71%. The state average is I think in >> 50 58% we're at 71. Uh again three years ago we were uh four years ago we were been down around 50%. So to go from 52 to 71 tied for second in the state. We have the fourth best graduation rate I think. Is it fourth best now or fifth? >> It fluctuates between two and four but I think it's fourth this year. >> Fourth this year. Fourth best graduation
081rate in the state. So many many good things have gone on and we have innovated and have been able to move forward uh and improve AC across the board and I think that's just been uh fantastic that we have been able to do that in all the other challenges that we're facing uh in education but again we relayed the thoughts to the to the legislature that here is a high-erforming school district that has had a three time three uh years in a uh and has had the best growth in the state and we're treated no differently. Can't we have more flexibility to innovate? We're a very innovative school district. We've had 15 >> 15 other school districts visit us uh to take a look at what we're doing. How have we done such improvement in
082such a short time? And so we believe that we've that we are a a district that can demonstrate to the state how education in public schools can be done and how you can meet and change it. So I think that we were received uh very well. We spent uh which is very unusual with in Tallahassee. We spent two hours with the committee and with the policy writers afterwards uh which is a pretty lengthy meeting for uh for Tallahassee and I think they were very interested in in what we're doing and hopefully their ears will be open to make some of the changes that'll give us more flexibility to continue to innovate the way we have. >> Thank you Dr. Jones. >> It's a good um starting point for me. I met with Senator Gro I
083think a couple months ago and expressed some of my concerns and talked about flexibility and she asked us to send a note to her about what what would be the best things where we could be flexible and the same um uh what Mr. Dyer was just talking about. Listen, we're an a school district. We keep climbing. We're working hard with all students. Our graduation rate keeps going up. I mean we're doing very very well. So, I think if we keep hitting and our community understands how important it is for us to be innovative and we get their support, we've just got got to keep that focus. Um, the Spiro competition at Viro Beach High School on Saturday was wonderful with the coding. Almost all every elementary school is represented in a few middle schools. The
084kids are doing a great job. I went to the red, white, and blue concert um for our veterans and it was wonderful at Vero Beach High School and Dr. I think I share with you we received an email about Veterans Day and what it means on the 11th day the 11th hour and so forth. As a daughter of a veteran and a wife of a veteran, I think this is very very important that we honor that. As far as my committees of value adjustment board met, executive roundt economic development council will meet tomorrow. They're looking at a um a plan you know for our county on where we're going to go a strategic plan and the schools are very much involved with that and how our schools are doing. The homecoming parade at Vero Beach
085High School is wonderful. I know it was after the fact, but they did a great thing. I attended the learning alliance kickoff. Thank you to the learning alliance and the and the board of the learning alliance and Ray Ogulthorp who is stepping down for president there. But that private public partnership that's what make you know that's how things are working and um I'm very appreciative of that as a community member. Uh Vero Beach High School football we do play Nona on Friday. I used to do those brackets at the Florida High School Athletic Association. It is a 7 PM start time. A lot of other ones have 7:30, but I checked with the executive director today. We're okay on 7 p.m. as long as that's put out there in the public. Um the gift, we
086talk about gifted programs, but gifted students, I know we probably talked about this last time at Dodgertown, but and I saw a lot of that at Vero Beach High School with the Sphero competition. I love that we keep pushing that. That we keep pushing that. Um, I think that's about it. I just, you know, as far as what we talked about today with our innovation, our leadership, and our community connection, I think that is what will make things work. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, I attended the Indian River County zoning planning meeting this last week and, um, there's a new resurgence of many, many housing projects on the horizon. Um, so say goodbye to all that land that you see. don't know where all the animals are going to go. Um, and they just keep
087coming. So, it's it's interesting. The Treasure Coast Council Local Governments meeting, I attended that. I have um unfortunately been homebound and can't drive because of my surgery. So, I have been on Zoom a lot for meetings. And um that meeting was interesting because they're monitoring all the tax reform bills. And these are the specific ones that they are monitoring. So, I thought I'd hand those to you. And um it's interesting because there are several bills that are out there this year um that are starting. I'm sure there'll be several more um about elimination of taxes, property taxes, and then new exemptions and expanded benefits and valuation assessments. So far so good on education kind of being out of that. >> Um but you never know. >> Just like last year with the schools of hope,
088we we followed that. I followed that those two bills that were going along in the House and the Senate and they changed at the last second and so you never know what's going to happen until the last day snee die. Um so just keep monitoring those. It's interesting what's going on. Um it will affect us somehow with taxing. So as community members of course we're going to be affected by that. Uh Ver Beach High School I got to finally go to a to a football game. I lasted one quarter. It was really nice and beautiful and nice to see the community out there supporting our teams. Uh Citrus and Glendale Town Hall. I walked that was all the way in the back of the campus and I I >> that's true >> had my little
089walker going all the way to the back of the campus. Um and it was nice to hear parents not afraid to speak up >> and um or being offered the opportunity to speak to a district member if they didn't want to speak to the in front of the whole group. And so um that is being offered. So, anybody that wants to go and speak, please go and speak. Go and ask your questions. Go and tell us about what issues you might have that you think are coming with this plan. Um, so that you can problem solve and and work with parents. And then um I made emails to our legislators. I think it was at 5:00 a.m. before I went into um my surgery and um spoke and sent emails to both uh Senator Gro
090and to Representative Brackett about our our concerns of Schools of Hope. Um I'm going in January on a trip to Tallahassee for the um day in the legislature. I know that there is one bill already going up for this, but I'm sure that I've heard there's lots of talk about it. Um so it'll be interesting to watch what happens to that in the next couple weeks. I see um it's on the horizon. It's not just our community and all the people that have sent emails or me messages and letters. We appreciate it so much. Keep it going. um because the more they hear that the community members are concerned, the more they'll listen. And so we appreciate that. At this time, we'll have the superintendent's closing. Thank you, ma madam chair. And as we move
091into the last full week before before Thanksgiving, uh we're we're definitely not easing into the end of this uh calendar year. There's significant amount of work that we have done and significant amount of work yet to be done. And me personally, I'm very thankful as as hard and as complex as this shift is. Um excited to do it, excited to be put in a place to have the opportunity to have such a large impact across uh one community, excited to engage with the team that's before you uh to do this work with on behalf of this community. So, we could have said, you know what, le let's just keep on doing what we're doing. Uh, but then we would have sold this community short. So, we chose to do the difficult thing. We chose to
092do the complex thing. Um, and it is really really rewarding. Um, even though it's it's every night, it's early, you know, some faculties you faculty meetings in the morning. So, you we begin and end our day uh engaging in dialogue and conversation. Um, but at the end of the day, all of this hard work is solely to get to the starting line. And the starting line really is when this board says, uh, yes, go forth and reinvent this this school system. And that would be December 17th. Um, and it is very, very exciting. Um, so as we move into the Thanksgiving uh holiday, uh, just so thankful to do this work for this board, for this community, with this team, um, and ultimately do this work for our community. The opportunity to have impact uh,
093is something that I have been chasing my my entire career and this initiative uh, will have more impact than anything else that I've ever done. So very exciting. Okay, with that, I'd like to thank everyone for coming out and viewing tonight. Um, and at this time before I adjourn the meeting, I'd like to say happy Thanksgiving and I am very thankful for you, Dr. Moore. At this time, it is 7:22 and we are adjourned.