Dr. David Moore, superintendent of the School District of Indian River County, told the Sebastian City Council on Oct. 22 that several schools in the city had reached higher performance ratings and urged local leaders to oppose a state initiative he said could allow outside operators to take over local schools.

Moore said Sebastian Elementary, Sebastian River Middle School and Sebastian River High School are now “A” schools. He highlighted Pelican Island Classical Magnet, a K–8 program the district opened this year, as an example of a model other districts had visited to replicate.

“Pelican Island Classical Magnet is a K–8 magnet that we have opened this year,” Moore said. “This is a gem we have in our community, and we need to collectively make sure we are selling the absolute outstanding education that's taking place at Pelican Island Classical School to fill it.”

Moore described a state program he called “Schools of Hope,” which he said is intended to serve persistently low-performing schools. He warned that outside providers can claim open seats in school districts and receive public funding for those students. “Schools of Hope are designed to serve as schools that are persistently low performing schools. Sebastian does not have any persistently low performing schools,” he said, adding that the district would “stand together” and advocate to keep those outside operators out of communities that do not need them.

Why it matters: Moore framed the issue as both a point of civic pride—local schools achieving A ratings—and a policy concern about state-level interventions that, he said, could move into communities that are not the intended target of the program.

Context and next steps: Moore said he and district staff would pursue messaging and advocacy to prevent Schools of Hope operators from claiming seats in Indian River County. He did not detail specific legal or legislative steps; the transcript records his intention to “advocate in a very, very strong approach.”