MILT THOMAS

The Indian River County public school system can be an easy target for criticism if it is only evaluated in terms of FCATs and budgets. The fact is, it is multi-dimensional and innovative. Nothing demonstrates that more than the Indian River County Charter High School, and no one understands the evolution of our public school system better than Gene Waddell.

Waddell, president of Waddell & Williams Insurance Group, is a Vero Beach native. His parents were well known in the community, his father an optometrist, Dr. Beckett Quay Waddell, Jr., also a native, and his wife, Mary Catharyne “Kitty,” who is probably best known in her later years owning the Poinsettia Gift Shop in downtown Vero.

Gene Waddell was the oldest of five children and graduated from Vero Beach High School in 1966. St. Edward’s School opened a year earlier in 1965, but until then, VBHS was the only high school in the county. “Then I went to Indian River Community College for one year,” says Waddell, “which was also relatively new.”

He went on to the University of Florida. Then came the first in a series twists and turns that eventually led to his relationship with the Charter High School. “I started in pre-med, but didn’t care much for some of the courses, so I shifted to a business major. I graduated in 1970 on a Saturday and went to work at the Beach Bank on Monday.”

The former Beach Bank is now Northern Trust. But back then, John’s Island and The Moorings were just emerging as the signature developments they would become. “Construction was booming and workers would come in to the bank every Friday to cash their paychecks, which were sometimes more than I made in a month.”

Banks were typically risk averse (unlike the industry’s behavior prior to the 2008 crash) and Waddell saw many business opportunities that could be financially rewarding, so he decided on a career change. His wife, Sherry, also went to Vero Beach High School (they met in Latin class). Her sister, Celeta, was married to Hamilton “Ham” Arden, an insurance agent. “We started Arden-Waddell Insurance in 1973,” says Waddell, “and continued until 1995.”

During that time he became involved with the public school system and received another education. “I was elected to the school board and served from 1986 to 1992. Superintendent Jim Burns came up with a performance based diploma program, which included basic academics, a vocational component and resulted in earning a GED. The program started small but became very successful and received statewide recognition.”

But Waddell decided not to continue serving on the school board. “We didn’t have much authority. The majority of our budget was negotiated and the curriculum was forced on us. I felt we should have more local control.”

As a side note, Superintendent James Burns left Indian River County in 1989 after ten years and in 1992 made the local headlines as a murder victim at his home in Columbus, Georgia.

Waddell decided to run for a seat in the Florida Senate in 1992, but lost. “I concentrated on my business after that and didn’t have a role in public education for another three or four years.”

That all changed when he received a call from Judy Jones, who had been the performance based program coordinator. “She had been transferred to adult education and took the performance based program with her. The state had just approved the charter school concept and she said let’s get together and see if we can move the performance based program into a charter school.

“So we started meeting with a group of citizens including County Judge Dave Morgan, Kay Wodtke Trent, IRCC Provost Dave Sullivan and others.. We started with a blank sheet of paper and said if we can create a school, what would we want it to be?”

They spent almost a year putting together a plan and another year before the charter was granted in 1998. Roger Dearing was superintendent of schools during this process and although he was controversial in some quarters, Waddell says he shepherded the charter plan through the school administration and was very supportive. According to Waddell, “If not for Dearing, there would be no charter schools in this county.”

The result of those efforts is the Indian River Charter High School. “The most important factor for students attending this school since day one,” says Waddell, “is that they are serious about their education. And that includes the parents, who must sign a seven-point behavior agreement along with the students upon enrollment. If the student violates that agreement, he or she must leave.”

All students (and staff ) agree to drug testing prior to enrollment and ongoing random drug testing. “If a student fails the drug test, he or she is automatically enrolled in a counseling program that lasts until they graduate.”

The curriculum and culture emphasize character development, academic achievement, career preparation and cultural awareness. Limited to 650 students, the IRCHS targets mature students in grades 9-12 who want or need a non-traditional structure. It has an open campus, much like a college.

In addition to foundation skills (the three Rs and more), students are taught the skills of listening, speaking, critical thinking, self motivation and integrity. The school also offers specialized programs in the Visual and Performing Arts and a Golf program. All teachers are certified.

The school’s environment is built on a foundation called Homebase, which is a team of 20-25 students assigned to one teacher who serves as the group’s on-campus advisor/facilitator/counselor. Homebase adjoins the teacher’s classroom and serves as a student lounge, like a teacher’s lounge, available throughout the school day. The Homebase team meets weekly to discuss all aspects of student and community life. Community service is an important part of the program.

Student schedules are individualized to learning styles, interests, abilities and life demands such as job hours and college classes, explained below. Classes are conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and  8:00 p.m. on weekdays, 5:00 on Fridays.

The Mueller Center of Indian River State College is next door to the Charter High School campus. Starting in the second semester of the sophomore year, most students are encouraged to enroll in at least one or two dual enrollment classes at IRSC. It is possible for students to work towards completion of an A.A. degree at the same time as they receive their high school diploma.

Students and teachers are at the Charter High School by choice and can return to the traditional high school if they desire or if they do not maintain the Charter High School standards.  According to Waddell, “We have 25-30 students a year return to the other public high schools because the non-structured environment and personal responsibility are not for everyone.”

The Indian River Charter High School is a non-profit organization with a volunteer board of directors. Gene Waddell is chairman. To illustrate the mature attitude of students, Waddell tells the story of a 13-year old who approached him in December one year and asked to address the board. “He was a freshman, about five feet tall, a little round. At the end of our board meeting, he stood up and said, ‘I have been a student in this county for eight years and every year other students made fun of me. Since starting school here in September, no one has said a thing about me.”

Waddell gets glassy-eyed when he tells that story. When asked why he feels the welcoming, non-judgmental attitude prevails, he says, “Students are here because they want an education and they are focused much more on learning than social attitudes. Peer pressure is to perform academically. We have only had one fight in 15 years. We don’t tolerate that kind of behavior and the kids know it.”

Gene Waddell has not only witnessed the maturing of Indian River County’s school system since being a student years ago, he has facilitated it.