School board names Vero Beach High gym floor for coach Charles "Chuck" Lowendijk

The School Board of Indian River County on Dec. 1 approved naming the gymnasium floor at Vero Beach High School for longtime coach Charles "Chuck" Lowendijk, honoring his nearly three decades coaching and community mentorship.

The item was moved from the consent agenda to action because board policy requires a supermajority for naming dedications. Michael Thomas, a district teacher and former coach, told the board the name would "preserve that legacy" and called Lowendijk a leader who "set standards, building character, and turning a simple court into a place where young men learn who they could become." Chauncey Stovall, a former player, described Lowendijk's summer devotion to players and urged the board to "consider naming the court after coach Lowndick [Lowendijk] for all the dedication that he's put in and change the lives of many kids in Indian River County for 3 decades."

Board members observed the item required a supermajority under board policy 72-50. During discussion, a board member credited Lowendijk for fostering student relationships beyond basketball and said the community's support made the naming "a no-brainer." The board conducted a roll-call vote and approved the naming 5-0.

The board record shows the motion was adopted under the board's naming policy; the meeting transcript includes multiple spellings of the coach's last name during public remarks, and the board recorded "Charles 'Chuck' Lowendijk" as the dedication name. The district did not specify a date for unveiling or signage in the meeting remarks.

The naming follows public testimony emphasizing mentorship and character-building and a recognition that the board's policy required clear documentation for dedications.