SEBASTIAN — The superintendent of Indian River County schools urged the local community to push back against an expanding state program that allows outside charter school operators to move into public school buildings, warning that such groups are eyeing space in a new classical academy here despite the district’s strong performance.
On Wednesday, Dr. David Moore spoke to the Sebastian City Council, pointing out recent improvements in school ratings but also warning about the Schools of Hope program, which he described as a threat to local control over education dollars and facilities.
“We need to stand strong,” Moore said, noting that the program was originally designed to help persistently low-performing schools but now includes provisions letting charters co-occupy space in districts like Indian River, where all Sebastian-area schools earned A grades this year.
Schools of Hope, established by Florida lawmakers in 2017, aim to bring high-performing charter operators into areas with struggling public schools to boost student outcomes. Under recent rule changes approved by the state Board of Education, these operators can request to use vacant or underused space in traditional public schools at no cost, with districts required to cover maintenance, utilities and other services while the charters receive per-pupil funding.
This growth has caused arguments in many school districts, including Sarasota County. There, the Miami-based Mater Academy has applied to take over parts of three public schools. Critics, including some superintendents, call it a “hostile takeover” that pulls resources away from existing programs without really adding new students.
In Indian River County, Moore said one target is Pelican Island Classical Magnet School, a K-8 academy that opened this year as one of only two classical schools in the state. Representatives from Martin and Seminole counties visited the campus Wednesday to study the model for their own districts, he added.
“This is a gem we have in our community, and we need to collectively make sure we’re selling the absolute outstanding education that’s taking place at Pelican Island Classical school to fill it,” Moore said.
He mentioned other successes: Sebastian Elementary School maintained its longstanding A rating, while Sebastian River Middle School and Sebastian River High School both improved to A’s. Treasure Coast Elementary School also held an A.
The district has transformed four elementary schools in recent years and added two K-8 models, Moore said, as part of efforts to innovate and serve all families, including those who homeschool or choose private options. He emphasized public schools’ role as the community’s top investment in future growth, especially amid Sebastian’s rapid expansion.
“There is an initiative across the state of Florida that I spoke about this morning that’s called Schools of Hope,” Moore said. “And Schools of Hope are outside entities who can come into our community and claim open space, open seats, that we have in our school system.”
He explained that districts reserve seats for incoming families in growing areas, but charters could take them over, leaving locals to foot the bill for operations while the operators collect the funding.
“Sebastian does not have any persistently low-performing schools. You got a bunch of A schools. You don’t need them,” Moore said. “But Pelican Island … that’s one of the schools they want to co-occupy. Take our money, occupy our classrooms.”
Councilman Ed Dodd asked what the city could do to help slow or stop the incursions.
“To me, it’s messaging. It’s just a continued conversation,” Moore replied. “Schools of Hope has a place in communities that are not serving its children. If you’re in an urban core and you have schools that are persistently low-performing, that’s where it needs to be.”
He called for advocacy to state officials, urging them to close loopholes allowing charters into thriving districts like Indian River, which he said has “an abundance of hope” and no failing schools.
“We’re in a good place. We stand together. We will be advocating in a very, very strong approach,” Moore said.
Florida’s Department of Education lists six designated hope operators, including Mater Academy and IDEA Public Schools, which must meet criteria like serving mostly low-income students and showing strong academic results. The program includes a revolving loan fund for facility needs, but the co-location rules have drawn pushback from districts worried about financial strain and reduced autonomy.
Moore closed by thanking the council for its partnership and expressing excitement about Sebastian’s educational quality.
“I’m excited about what’s happening in Sebastian and the quality of education that’s taking place,” he said.
