Indian River school superintendent Moore could get 22% raise after stellar report card

Treasure Coast Newspaper | By Colleen Wixon | September 24, 2024

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Saying they want to keep Superintendent David Moore from looking for another job, School Board members have set the wheels in motion to give him a raise.

The board voted 4-1 Monday to start salary negotiations with Moore, who has been in the job nearly five years. Jackie Rosario dissented, saying she wanted Moore’s salary first discussed at a workshop meeting. The item was added to Monday’s agenda without notice.

Board member Dr. Gene Posca initially proposed a 22% raise, increasing Moore’s salary from $195,699 to $239,00, and doubling Moore’s deferred-retirement compensation from 5% to 10%.

“(Moore) is at the very bottom in the state as far as compensation,” Posca said. “If you leave someone like that for too long, it opens up, maybe, the possibility somebody could find some good talent in Indian River County and take him away.”

Moore, hired in 2019, is credited with improving employee morale, fixing the district’s financial issues and leading the district to back-to-back “A” grades from the state. Board members praised his performance last month in his annual performance review, grading him in areas such as academic success, equity and culture, communication, work standards and integrity.

New board member Kevin McDonald gave Moore perfect scores in all areas, while Barenborg gave him near-perfect scores. Rosario graded Moore the lowest, with a 4.1 out of 5. A score of 4 is considered as “meeting expectations,” while a score of 5 is “exemplary.” Rosario gave Moore a 3 in the area of communication. Board member Peggy Jones gave him a 4.4 average, while Posca gave him a 4.5.

Moore currently is paid less than other superintendents of similarly sized districts, officials said. Martin County Superintendent Michael Maine, for example, is paid $241,000 with a 7.9% deferred-retirement payment, board members said.

Rosario said she supports a raise, but wanted to discuss the amount before beginning negotiations.

Indian River County school Superintendent David Moore greets first grade students on their first day of school, Monday, August 12, 2024, at Vero Beach Elementary School

“I’m just concerned about the amount of increase,” Rosario said. “How much do you offer without insulting the hard-working people in our district? We have people in our district who are struggling.”

Board members, however, argued that it would cost the district more to find a replacement if Moore were to go to a higher-paying district.

David Moore interviews for the open Indian River County Schools District superintendent position on Thursday, November 14, 2019, at the district office in Indian River County

The competition for experienced, successful superintendents is fierce within the state, said board Chair Teri Barenborg, adding she is continually asked by board members in other districts about Moore’s future in Indian River County. Several districts are currently looking, she said.

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The market is very, very tight for superintendents, and the board needs to hold on to its “great” superintendent, Barenborg said.

“Rocking this boat now, on the trajectory we are on, and having to find a new superintendent and the cost that would take — it’s just not worth it to me,” Barenborg said.

The board could vote on a raise by October.