A Primer on the 4 School Board Candidates Who Meet Today at Taxpayer’s Association Forum.
The Sunshine Journal reached out to each candidate with ten individualized questions about their motivation, vision and issues. Forum to be posted at The Sunshine Journal.
Today, the 4 Candidates for the two seats on the school board will finally meet at The Taxpayer’s Association candidate forum. In District 3, career educator in government schools, the incumbent, Dr. Peggy Jones, is challenged by real-estate business owner, Robert MacCallum. Since the resignation of Brian Barefoot in District 5, two candidates have emerged, retired CEO, David Dyer and Kevin McDonald who was just appointed by Governor DeSantis to fill the vacancy of Mr. Barefoot.
In preparation for the Taxpayer Association forum, The Sunshine Journal reached out to all 4 candidates with 10 specific questions based on their vision and messaging on social media and websites. The questionnaire was emailed Saturday, March 23rd, to be returned by midweek before Easter. Of the four candidates, only two, Robert MacCallum in District 3 and Kevin McDonald in District 5, returned answers of questions asked by The Sunshine Journal.
District 5, Kevin McDonald
Mr. McDonald’s week leading up to the Taxpayer’s Association Forum has been a bit of a whirlwind. On Tuesday, he was appointed by Governor DeSantis to fill the vacant school board seat left by Mr. Barefoot who resigned in February. “I am honored to be selected and appointed by our great governor, Ron DeSantis, and I look forward to serving the parents, families and taxpayers of Indian River County,” said Mr. McDonald. Thursday was an all-day orientation at district offices for his new position.
His appointment did not come lightly. The DeSantis team vetted Mr. McDonald, and his challenger, Mr. Dyer. It became clear that Gov. DeSantis was looking at those willing to serve beyond the end of this year. The Sunshine Journal asked Mr. McDonald the one question it asked all candidates, “What is your motivation for seeking election to the school board?”
Mr. McDonald offered a pretty frank assessment of why he wants to serve. “I am running because, according to Dr. Moore, the school system has shrunk 800 students over 5 years and it needs leadership and experience. As Chairman and Treasurer of Geneva Classical School of Manhattan for 7 years, I know how to run a successful school board. Geneva grew 30% under my leadership. With my background it only makes sense that I join the team.”
The Sunshine Journal asked Mr. McDonald about what he liked about the presentation concerning the new classical school proposal. Dr. Moore and his executive team led by Dr. Kyra Schafte presented to the board on February 12th. Overall, Mr. McDonald was highly impressed. “They did an excellent job researching and considering many important factors. I concur with Dr. Moore’s personal family experience which evidenced that a Classical curriculum for his children and others have produced outstanding results,” said Mr. McDonald. Indeed, he has also expressed in his platform implementing literacy and math initiatives. The Sunshine Journal pressed for his solutions. He said, “For earlier grades, phonics, handwriting and script contribute to the learning process. We also need to develop a love for reading. However, math needs to be differentiated to accommodate each student’s abilities and challenges.”
Mr. McDonald understands that, even though the District is the only “A+” rated on the Treasure Coast, there is still work to be done to raise scores. “SDIRC is doing well, when measured against Florida’s other failing school districts. But our test results have remained at 60% literacy and math for the last 10 years,” adding, “These are not good results. Students need to be reaching 85%-90% competency. That is what parents expect.”
Those 60% scores are reading at grade level for the third grade. Math has actually increased 10% since 2021 to 70% for third grade. However, by grades 9-12, these assessment levels show only 50% of students reading at grade level for the past two years. Math is tragically lower for the same two years at 27%. High school math scores are down 18% since Dr. Moore arrived in 2019. Furthermore, numbers like these have given government schools a cultural stigma. “We will change those perceptions when we change reality. And we change that reality by providing better choices and delivering what parents expect,” said Mr. McDonald.
District 5 - David Dyer
As mentioned earlier, Mr. Dyer refused to answer The Sunshine Journal’s questions for this story. Through his own personal profile and many news reports, Mr. Dyer seems likable which is somewhat proven by the 4200 views of his 15-second promotional video released March 25th. He was a very successful businessman in retail and is endorsed by Mr. Barefoot. After he filed to run on February 13th, he stepped down as Vice Chairman of The Learning Alliance (TLA). He is a Founding member having given $150,000 over a three year span to the organization.
Mr. Dyer was vetted by Mr. Barefoot and his former campaign manager Jeffrey Andros. Now, Andros is Mr. Dyer’s campaign manager. The Sunshine Journal is not sure who decided not to have Mr. Dyer respond to questions. Mr. Dyer’s involvement with TLA obviously makes literacy his main message in the campaign. The Sunshine Journal asked Mr. Dyer if his manager, who is a voting member on the Children’s Advisory Committee (CSAC) at the County Commission, presents a conflict of interest. In 2023, CSAC approved $425,000 additional tax dollars for TLA even though the non-profit showed a net income of $19.8 million.
Mr. Dyer did not respond to request for comment on the conflict question or the follow-up. All candidates were asked by The Sunshine Journal about this practice of “double dipping” by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In the case of TLA, the organization pays for teachers, professional coaching and staff after the school district invoices them. In many instances, TLA is using county tax dollars not school district dollars. Mr. Dyer’s opponent does not approve. “We have a great responsibility to be stewards of taxpayer dollars. This redirection of funds creates a conflict of interests. I don’t represent NGOs. I represent IRC taxpayer, parents and their kids,” remarked Mr. McDonald.
The Sunshine Journal complimented Mr. Dyer on how his focus on literacy is reflected in his local philanthropy, and, followed up by asking what is the rest of his platform. Also, The Sunshine Journal asked, “Are there any pressing issues that needed the board’s immediate attention?”
Even in media reports, other than saying he was willing to “step up and serve” when Gov. DeSantis was deciding the appointment, Mr. Dyer really hasn’t unveiled any overall vision for his campaign. On his website he commends the district for its ‘A grade’ and ‘data driven accountability’ which has been implemented. The biggest news from his first fundraiser was he endorsed Dr. Jones for re-election.
District 3 - Dr. Peggy Jones
Dr. Peggy Jones has been in Education for 5 decades. She is personally well liked by many colleagues and her resume includes opening Sebastian River High School as its first principal. The Sunshine Journal also asked her ten questions to which she did not respond. Based on her website, Dr. Jones has always been motivated and “passionate about student success.”
“My objective for my re-election is to afford each student, regardless of background, an opportunity to not only achieve success, but also realize everyone of them can be successful,” she wrote on her Welcome page. The Sunshine Journal reviewed her platform. Under the title that reads, “Keep the Focus on Students and Academics,” Dr. Jones wrote, “To be successful, we must combine the science of teaching; knowing your content, and the art of teaching; which is developing relationships.”
The Sunshine Journal not only asked for an explanation of this understanding but followed up with the question, “[Regarding] the Science and Art of teaching, you launched your campaign on the African American History Standard false claims that it says, and even remotely means, that ‘slaves benefit from slavery,’ despite the scientific fact that four African American doctoral professors—Dr. Bill Proctor FAMU who organized, Dr. William Allen, Dr. Frances Presley Rice, Dr. Lafrance “Joe” Clarke of USF— clearly have explained the actual clarification. Do you feel directly responsible for distorting many parents, community members, and student's trust and confidence of their relationship with the state public education system?”
The Sunshine Journal did not get an answer to this question. Dr. Jones launched her campaign on this politicized claim made first by Kamala Harris in July of 2023. The Sunshine Journal asked her if she agreed with Dr. Moore about how he believed the district has met all of the benchmarks of the desegregation order for “unitary status.” Dr. Jones has served on the committee for over two years.
The Sunshine Journal also asked what she thought of the Classical model of education presented by Dr. Moore and his team. After the presentation, Dr. Jones had a lot of pointed questions about a Classical school. Dr. Jones does believe that the district must be situated properly because of the “competitive state of education.”
Of her 50 years, the last 4 of them have been as an elected representative. In 2022, Dr. Jones and the majority of the board voted 4-1 to keep the books challenged for pornographic content on the shelves of school libraries against the wishes of many citizens. The evidence escaped scrutiny as the process of the challenges was changed, potentially violating Sunshine law. The District is in appeals court over that 2022 decision and how that process was handled.
In 2023, Dr. Jones became chairman of the school board, the same year the law permitting parents and residents to read the content of their challenges during public comment. In August, Dr. Jones was in a viral video preventing a man, Pastor John Amanchukwu from North Carolina, from speaking his full-time at the podium, having him removed from the building by the deputies. That video has been viewed over 11 million times on social media with many protesting that his free speech right to speak was infringed.
District 3 - Robert MacCallum
Robert MacCallum represents the new generation of community leaders in Indian River County. At the County Commission forum last month, the community saw candidates like Stephen Hume, David R. Shaw and Timothy Borden entering into their races as concerned citizens representing the 40 and under demographic. Mr. MacCallum is a successful businessman in real estate and insurance having built organizations by helping other agents achieve their business goals. Him and his wife, Colleen, have two children. The kids are beginning their journey in public school. Mr. MacCallum was the first candidate to file and has already qualified for the ballot. “My son just started kindergarten and my daughter starts next year. It’s time that my generation steps up and starts running for positions that will help shape our future,” says Mr. MacCallum. He added, “My ultimate goal is to help build a school system that graduates forward thinking, independent leaders who have the drive and desire to make a difference in the world with positive contributions.”
On his website, Mr. MacCallum advocates for “an environment where teachers feel empowered to teach.” Being a business leader that has built organizations of independent agents, The Sunshine Journal asked what practical things a school board can do to facilitate that empowerment? “Eliminating micromanagement practices and implementing a supportive approach, replied Mr. MacCallum. He continued, “I hear time and time again that teachers are afraid to make decisions and take action because they might lose their job or get a discipline action. I am not sure what sparked that but we need to fix it.”
In business and in life, Mr. MacCallum does not compromise on principle. “I have Integrity and compassion for people and their success. What drives me daily is the ability to connect with someone or a group and help them reach their potential or goals,” he said. In business, Mr. MacCallum is constantly helping agents on his team develop plans to achieve their goals. However, on a school board, the autonomy is spread among five members. “For me, I am not a ‘see it my way’ kind of leader. I prefer having all ideas and details on the table and coming to a non-emotional decision on how to move forward,” answered Mr. MacCallum. He acknowledges that there will be debates. He said, “We are all elected officials, so, if all voices are heard on the matter and respectful discussion is had, I will always accept the outcome.”
One of those issues being debated is a matter of student cell phone use. With the recent arrest of former deputy Kai Cromer who was reported by two female students for soliciting them for nude photographs on Snapchat, the issue needs a solution. “I am firm in my belief that cell phones do not belong in the classroom or used for anything other than an emergency inside the school,” says Mr. MacCallum adamantly. He continues, “I have zero tolerance for bullying. Every student has the right to a public education and NO student or individual has the right to take that away.”
Mr. MacCallum also believes NGO’s can have a positive impact on the school system. He believes they should be vetted with transparency. He further suggests mandatory review periods so the district can review contracts and where warranted, even open bidding from other organizations. In regards to the ‘double dipping,” Mr. MacCallum reminds, “The funds that were given came from the County Commission, so, I am not sure how much influence the School Board would even have to be able to refuse that money.”
Many residents in the community are in support of The Learning Alliance’s mission to achieve a 90% literacy rate by third grade. Mr. MacCallum is no exception in that support. “The partnership with them will get us to our goals,” he said. He attended their two-day seminar on January 25 -26 put on jointly by the school district and TLA which featured a tour of Vero Beach Elementary, the district’s Moonshot School.
He offered a view of their large income report which was based on a $20 million donation. He told a story of how his years as a Rotarian in Massachusetts have taught him that when people donate a large sum, it is to leave a legacy through an endowment fund. It happened to his Rotary club. The dividends and profit from the endowment became the funding for charitable works. “Essentially it would never run out of money. The legacy of the couple that left the money would live on and do good in the world forever,” he explained. So returning to The Learning Alliance he said, “The service they can provide our community is invaluable and can be the start of a movement that helps students all across the country.”