Indian River school board sets Dec. 17 hearing on attendance-zone changes, approves appointments

The Indian River County School Board voted Nov. 17 to schedule a special meeting and public hearing for Dec. 17 to consider final attendance‑zone boundary changes the district says are needed to right‑size schools and support a new operational innovation initiative. The board also approved several citizen appointments and agreed to advertise proposed revisions to 55 district policies.

Superintendent Dr. Moore told the board the reorganization aims to consolidate and modernize facilities, move two magnet schools into retrofitted middle‑school campuses and shift some programs so schools better match projected enrollment. The district listed the schools affected in the rule summary: Glendale Elementary, Citrus Elementary, Sebastian Elementary School of the Arts, Dodgertown Elementary, Gifford Middle, Oslo Middle, Sebastian River Middle and Storm Grove Middle; the proposed boundary changes would take effect July 1, 2026 if the board adopts the rule as scheduled.

"This initiative will have more impact than anything else that I've ever done," Dr. Moore said, describing a process of facility retrofits, expanded programming and efforts to reduce duplicate job descriptions while preserving instructional quality. Board discussion emphasized capacity and transportation: the superintendent said the changes would reduce redundant student movement between buildings and allow ninth‑grade programs greater access to vocational offerings.

The board voted by voice for a motion to set a Dec. 17 special meeting and public hearing; the motion carried, recorded as 5‑0. Earlier in the meeting the board approved the consent agenda (5‑0) and unanimously designated the district chair, vice chair and the superintendent as officers of the district leasing corporation.

Other formal actions included appointments to citizen boards: the board appointed Mr. George Ratako to the Indian River County Metropolitan Planning Organization Citizen Advisory Committee; Nicole Garner was named primary member of the School Planning Citizen Oversight Committee with Peter Robinson as alternate; and Angie Sheffers was reappointed to the county Value Adjustment Board. All three appointments were recorded by the board as passing 5‑0.

The board also voted to set a public hearing to advertise proposed updates to district policies — a package the agenda described as 55 policies (54 revised and one new) revised to comply with 2025 state legislation and Department of Education guidance. The board placed those proposed policy revisions on a public‑notice schedule and will hold a hearing before final adoption.

The board and superintendent repeatedly framed the boundary proposal as an initial, rule‑making step. Dr. Moore and members urged continued community engagement through the district’s town halls and the scheduled hearings; the superintendent said staff will be available at upcoming meetings to answer questions and gather public comment. The board is expected to consider final adoption at the Dec. 17 special meeting.

What happens next: a public hearing and notice period precede any final adoption under Florida rule‑making procedures; the board set the special hearing for Dec. 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Joanne Aydellet Jr. Teacher Education Center in Vero Beach.