VERO BEACH — The Indian River County School Board unanimously approved a districtwide consolidation plan that will relocate several schools and merge others starting in the 2026-2027 school year, intended to tackle declining enrollment and optimize underused facilities.
The unanimous 5-0 vote came during a special meeting on Tuesday, with the changes set to take effect in August 2026. Key moves include merging Vero Beach High School’s freshman center into the main campus, a step projected to save $1.2 million annually in transportation costs. Oslo Middle School will relocate to the former freshman center and be renamed Vero Beach Middle School.
Other relocations involve moving Osceola Magnet K-8 School to the current Oslo Middle School building and shifting Rosewood Magnet School to the Storm Grove Middle campus. Glendale Elementary will merge with Citrus Elementary, while Sebastian Elementary will share space with Sebastian River Middle School. IR Prep will co-locate in the Treasure Coast Technical Education Center.
Vacated buildings will be repurposed: the former Rosewood campus as a professional learning and leadership center, Osceola’s current site as an adult learning innovation center, and Glendale’s building to house the Wabasso school program and a prekindergarten center.
The plan responds to a drop of about 2,000 students since 2019, with traditional middle schools operating at roughly half capacity while magnet programs turn away nearly 100 families each year.
Superintendent Dr. David K. Moore described the initiative as a “reset” to maximize resources and embrace innovation, saying, “It is time for us to embrace innovation, listen to our parents, listen to our community, and provide quality education that meets the needs of every single child.”
Public attendance was low, with fewer than a dozen people at the meeting, but reactions were generally positive. School Board Vice Chair Peggy Jones noted, “People will say this is hard, but they’re listening, they’re understanding.” Board Chair Teri Barenborg added that “parents were listened to.”
Families affected by the changes will be contacted about options to remain at their current schools, officials said. The district also recently approved $66 million for its capital improvement plan to support growth and educational needs.