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Residents urge repeal of Florida —Schools of Hope— co-location provision at Indian River school board meeting
Summary
Public commenters at the School District of Indian River County meeting pressed lawmakers to repeal the Schools of Hope co-location provision, warning it could hand public school space to charter operators without community consent and harm local control and student privacy.
Public comment at the Jan. 26 School District of Indian River County board meeting centered on opposition to the state—ducation policy often called "Schools of Hope," with several speakers urging the Florida Legislature to repeal a co-location provision that would allow charter operators to occupy public-school facilities.
"Our legislators are preparing to hand over hundreds of public schools across Florida to a small group of charter school operators without community consent, without transparency, and without accountability," said Margaret Murray, vice chair of Education Champions. Murray told the board the provision threatens local control and could harm student safety and privacy.
Thomas Kenny, a public commenter, raised concerns about delays in ongoing desegregation negotiations and read aloud a Facebook post from Marshawn Green criticizing the district's handling of racial equity issues. Kenny told the board the mediation schedule remains unresolved and urged the district to move more quickly on outstanding items. Reading Green's post, Kenny quoted: "Black students don't stand a chance in the school district of Indian River County because only a handful of black administrators actually care about them." He said the post questioned whether the current negotiators were the right representatives.
Zachary Wiggers, a Sebastian River High School teacher, used his time to emphasize civic responsibility, urging students and community members to understand the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance and to participate in upcoming elections.
Jennifer Pippitt, another commenter, said voters should focus on incumbents' voting records, attendance and policy positions in the coming board races and noted that, if three incumbents are reelected, their seats would be open by 2030.
Board members acknowledged the comments; the transcript does not record any formal action by the board on the Schools of Hope co-location provision during this meeting. No staff report or motion addressing the legislative provision was introduced in the segments provided.
What happens next: The comments were entered into the public record. The transcript shows no board motion or vote addressing the state policy; any formal board response or further action would depend on later agenda items or staff reports.
