diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 2fe14ad6e..9272a0572 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,26 @@
+
+# job_environment will setup the environment for any job being executed.
+job_environment: &job_environment
+  DISABLE_CREATE_MONGO_INDEXES: TRUE
+
 # job_defaults applies all the defaults for each job.
 job_defaults: &job_defaults
   working_directory: ~/coralproject/talk
   docker:
     - image: circleci/node:8
+  environment:
+    <<: *job_environment
+
+# create_indexes will create the mongo indexes and wait until they have been
+# built.
+create_indexes: &create_indexes
+  run:
+    name: Create the database indexes and wait until they are built
+    command: ./bin/cli db createIndexes
 
 # integration_environment is the environment that configures the tests.
 integration_environment: &integration_environment
+  <<: *job_environment
   NODE_ENV: test
   CIRCLE_TEST_REPORTS: /tmp/circleci-test-results
   E2E_MAX_RETRIES: 3
@@ -25,6 +40,7 @@ integration_job: &integration_job
     - checkout
     - attach_workspace:
         at: ~/coralproject/talk
+    - <<: *create_indexes
     - run:
         name: Setup the database with defaults
         command: ./bin/cli setup --defaults
@@ -117,6 +133,7 @@ jobs:
           environment:
             JEST_JUNIT_OUTPUT: /tmp/circleci-test-results/jest/test-results.xml
             JEST_REPORTER: jest-junit
+      - <<: *create_indexes
       - run:
           name: Run the server unit tests
           command: yarn test:server
diff --git a/bin/cli b/bin/cli
index 314f33dd4..df2253261 100755
--- a/bin/cli
+++ b/bin/cli
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ const Matcher = require('did-you-mean');
 
 program
   .command('serve', 'serve the application')
+  .command('db', 'run database commands')
   .command('settings', 'interact with the application settings')
   .command('assets', 'interact with assets')
   .command('setup', 'setup the application')
diff --git a/bin/cli-db b/bin/cli-db
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..1057b1057
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/cli-db
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+const util = require('./util');
+const program = require('commander');
+const config = require('../config');
+
+async function createIndexes() {
+  try {
+    // Ensure we enable the index creation.
+    config.CREATE_MONGO_INDEXES = true;
+
+    // TODO: handle the plugin index creation?
+
+    // Let's register the shutdown hooks.
+    util.onshutdown([() => require('../services/mongoose').disconnect()]);
+
+    // Lets create all the database indexes for the application and wait for all
+    // them to finish their indexing.
+    const models = [
+      require('../models/action'),
+      require('../models/asset'),
+      require('../models/comment'),
+      require('../models/setting'),
+      require('../models/user'),
+      require('../models/migration'),
+    ];
+
+    // Call the `.init()` method to setup all the indexes on each model.
+    // `init()` returns a promise that resolves when the indexes have finished
+    // building successfully. The `init()` function is idempotent, so we don't
+    // have to worry about triggering an index rebuild.
+    await Promise.all(models.map(Model => Model.init()));
+
+    console.log('Indexes created');
+    util.shutdown(0);
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error(err);
+    util.shutdown(1);
+  }
+}
+
+program
+  .command('createIndexes')
+  .description('creates the database indexes and waits until they are created')
+  .action(createIndexes);
+
+program.parse(process.argv);
+
+// If there is no command listed, output help.
+if (process.argv.length <= 2) {
+  program.outputHelp();
+  util.shutdown();
+}
diff --git a/models/action.js b/models/action.js
index f3414f3ea..dd2bc4377 100644
--- a/models/action.js
+++ b/models/action.js
@@ -1,53 +1,4 @@
 const mongoose = require('../services/mongoose');
-const uuid = require('uuid');
-const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
-const ACTION_TYPES = require('./enum/action_types');
-const ITEM_TYPES = require('./enum/item_types');
+const { Action } = require('./schema');
 
-const ActionSchema = new Schema(
-  {
-    id: {
-      type: String,
-      default: uuid.v4,
-      unique: true,
-    },
-    action_type: {
-      type: String,
-      enum: ACTION_TYPES,
-    },
-    item_type: {
-      type: String,
-      enum: ITEM_TYPES,
-    },
-    item_id: String,
-    user_id: String,
-
-    // The element that summaries will additionally group on in addtion to their action_type, item_type, and
-    // item_id.
-    group_id: String,
-
-    // Additional metadata stored on the field.
-    metadata: Schema.Types.Mixed,
-  },
-  {
-    timestamps: {
-      createdAt: 'created_at',
-      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
-    },
-  }
-);
-
-// Create an index on the `item_id` field so that queries looking for
-// actions based on the item id can resolve faster.
-ActionSchema.index(
-  {
-    item_id: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-const Action = mongoose.model('Action', ActionSchema);
-
-module.exports = Action;
+module.exports = mongoose.model('Action', Action);
diff --git a/models/asset.js b/models/asset.js
index 6fdea3b78..6d7f95220 100644
--- a/models/asset.js
+++ b/models/asset.js
@@ -1,99 +1,4 @@
 const mongoose = require('../services/mongoose');
-const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
-const uuid = require('uuid');
-const TagLinkSchema = require('./schema/tag_link');
-const get = require('lodash/get');
+const { Asset } = require('./schema');
 
-const AssetSchema = new Schema(
-  {
-    id: {
-      type: String,
-      default: uuid.v4,
-      unique: true,
-      index: true,
-    },
-    url: {
-      type: String,
-      unique: true,
-      index: true,
-    },
-    type: {
-      type: String,
-      default: 'assets',
-    },
-    scraped: {
-      type: Date,
-      default: null,
-    },
-    closedAt: {
-      type: Date,
-      default: null,
-    },
-    closedMessage: {
-      type: String,
-      default: null,
-    },
-    title: String,
-    description: String,
-    image: String,
-    section: String,
-    subsection: String,
-    author: String,
-    publication_date: Date,
-    modified_date: Date,
-
-    // This object is used exclusively for storing settings that are to override
-    // the base settings from the base Settings object. This is to be accessed
-    // always after running `rectifySettings` against it.
-    settings: {
-      default: {},
-      type: Object,
-    },
-
-    // Tags are added by the self or by administrators.
-    tags: [TagLinkSchema],
-
-    // Additional metadata stored on the field.
-    metadata: {
-      default: {},
-      type: Object,
-    },
-  },
-  {
-    versionKey: false,
-    timestamps: {
-      createdAt: 'created_at',
-      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
-    },
-  }
-);
-
-AssetSchema.index(
-  {
-    title: 'text',
-    url: 'text',
-    description: 'text',
-    section: 'text',
-    subsection: 'text',
-    author: 'text',
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-/**
- * Returns true if the asset is closed, false else.
- */
-AssetSchema.virtual('isClosed').get(function() {
-  const closedAt = get(this, 'closedAt', null);
-  if (closedAt === null) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  return closedAt.getTime() <= new Date().getTime();
-});
-
-const Asset = mongoose.model('Asset', AssetSchema);
-
-module.exports = Asset;
+module.exports = mongoose.model('Asset', Asset);
diff --git a/models/comment.js b/models/comment.js
index 88f5e5829..f61740ffd 100644
--- a/models/comment.js
+++ b/models/comment.js
@@ -1,235 +1,4 @@
 const mongoose = require('../services/mongoose');
-const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
-const TagLinkSchema = require('./schema/tag_link');
-const uuid = require('uuid');
-const COMMENT_STATUS = require('./enum/comment_status');
+const { Comment } = require('./schema');
 
-/**
- * The Mongo schema for a Comment Status.
- * @type {Schema}
- */
-const StatusSchema = new Schema(
-  {
-    type: {
-      type: String,
-      enum: COMMENT_STATUS,
-    },
-
-    // The User ID of the user that assigned the status.
-    assigned_by: {
-      type: String,
-      default: null,
-    },
-
-    created_at: Date,
-  },
-  {
-    _id: false,
-  }
-);
-
-/**
- * A record of old body values for a Comment
- */
-const BodyHistoryItemSchema = new Schema({
-  body: {
-    required: true,
-    type: String,
-  },
-
-  // datetime until the comment body value was this.body
-  created_at: {
-    required: true,
-    type: Date,
-    default: Date,
-  },
-});
-
-/**
- * The Mongo schema for a Comment.
- * @type {Schema}
- */
-const CommentSchema = new Schema(
-  {
-    id: {
-      type: String,
-      default: uuid.v4,
-      unique: true,
-    },
-    body: {
-      type: String,
-      required: [true, 'The body is required.'],
-      minlength: 2,
-    },
-    body_history: [BodyHistoryItemSchema],
-    asset_id: String,
-    author_id: String,
-    status_history: [StatusSchema],
-    status: {
-      type: String,
-      enum: COMMENT_STATUS,
-      default: 'NONE',
-    },
-
-    // parent_id is the id of the parent comment (null if there is none).
-    parent_id: String,
-
-    // The number of replies to this comment directly.
-    reply_count: {
-      type: Number,
-      default: 0,
-    },
-
-    // Counts to store related to actions taken on the given comment.
-    action_counts: {
-      default: {},
-      type: Object,
-    },
-
-    // Tags are added by the self or by administrators.
-    tags: [TagLinkSchema],
-
-    // Additional metadata stored on the field.
-    metadata: {
-      default: {},
-      type: Object,
-    },
-  },
-  {
-    timestamps: {
-      createdAt: 'created_at',
-      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
-    },
-    toJSON: {
-      virtuals: true,
-    },
-  }
-);
-
-// Add the indexes for the id of the comment.
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    id: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    unique: true,
-    background: false,
-  }
-);
-
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    status: 1,
-    created_at: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    status: 1,
-    created_at: 1,
-    asset_id: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// Create a sparse index to search across.
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    created_at: 1,
-    'action_counts.flag': 1,
-    status: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-    sparse: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// Create a sparse index to search across.
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    'action_counts.flag': 1,
-    status: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-    sparse: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// Add an index that is optimized for finding flagged comments.
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    asset_id: 1,
-    created_at: 1,
-    'action_counts.flag': 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// Add an index for the reply sort.
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    asset_id: 1,
-    created_at: -1,
-    reply_count: -1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// Optimize for tag searches/counts.
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    asset_id: 1,
-    'tags.tag.name': 1,
-    status: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// Optimize for tag searches/counts.
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    'tags.tag.name': 1,
-    status: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-    sparse: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// Add an index that is optimized for sorting based on the created_at timestamp
-// but also good at locating comments that have a specific asset id.
-CommentSchema.index(
-  {
-    asset_id: 1,
-    created_at: 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-CommentSchema.virtual('edited').get(function() {
-  return this.body_history.length > 1;
-});
-
-// Visable is true when the comment is visible to the public.
-CommentSchema.virtual('visible').get(function() {
-  return ['ACCEPTED', 'NONE'].includes(this.status);
-});
-
-module.exports = mongoose.model('Comment', CommentSchema);
+module.exports = mongoose.model('Comment', Comment);
diff --git a/models/migration.js b/models/migration.js
index d60a4c0d6..86982108e 100644
--- a/models/migration.js
+++ b/models/migration.js
@@ -1,10 +1,4 @@
 const mongoose = require('../services/mongoose');
-const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
+const { Migration } = require('./schema');
 
-const MigrationSchema = new Schema({
-  version: Number,
-});
-
-const Migration = mongoose.model('Migration', MigrationSchema);
-
-module.exports = Migration;
+module.exports = mongoose.model('Migration', Migration);
diff --git a/models/schema/action.js b/models/schema/action.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1df7bd793
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/schema/action.js
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+const mongoose = require('../../services/mongoose');
+const uuid = require('uuid');
+const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
+const ACTION_TYPES = require('../enum/action_types');
+const ITEM_TYPES = require('../enum/item_types');
+
+const Action = new Schema(
+  {
+    id: {
+      type: String,
+      default: uuid.v4,
+      unique: true,
+    },
+    action_type: {
+      type: String,
+      enum: ACTION_TYPES,
+    },
+    item_type: {
+      type: String,
+      enum: ITEM_TYPES,
+    },
+    item_id: String,
+    user_id: String,
+
+    // The element that summaries will additionally group on in addtion to their action_type, item_type, and
+    // item_id.
+    group_id: String,
+
+    // Additional metadata stored on the field.
+    metadata: Schema.Types.Mixed,
+  },
+  {
+    timestamps: {
+      createdAt: 'created_at',
+      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
+    },
+  }
+);
+
+// Create an index on the `item_id` field so that queries looking for
+// actions based on the item id can resolve faster.
+Action.index(
+  {
+    item_id: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+module.exports = Action;
diff --git a/models/schema/asset.js b/models/schema/asset.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..043bc9a3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/schema/asset.js
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+const mongoose = require('../../services/mongoose');
+const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
+const uuid = require('uuid');
+const TagLinkSchema = require('./tag_link');
+const { get } = require('lodash');
+
+const Asset = new Schema(
+  {
+    id: {
+      type: String,
+      default: uuid.v4,
+      unique: true,
+      index: true,
+    },
+    url: {
+      type: String,
+      unique: true,
+      index: true,
+    },
+    type: {
+      type: String,
+      default: 'assets',
+    },
+    scraped: {
+      type: Date,
+      default: null,
+    },
+    closedAt: {
+      type: Date,
+      default: null,
+    },
+    closedMessage: {
+      type: String,
+      default: null,
+    },
+    title: String,
+    description: String,
+    image: String,
+    section: String,
+    subsection: String,
+    author: String,
+    publication_date: Date,
+    modified_date: Date,
+
+    // This object is used exclusively for storing settings that are to override
+    // the base settings from the base Settings object. This is to be accessed
+    // always after running `rectifySettings` against it.
+    settings: {
+      default: {},
+      type: Object,
+    },
+
+    // Tags are added by the self or by administrators.
+    tags: [TagLinkSchema],
+
+    // Additional metadata stored on the field.
+    metadata: {
+      default: {},
+      type: Object,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    versionKey: false,
+    timestamps: {
+      createdAt: 'created_at',
+      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
+    },
+  }
+);
+
+Asset.index(
+  {
+    title: 'text',
+    url: 'text',
+    description: 'text',
+    section: 'text',
+    subsection: 'text',
+    author: 'text',
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+/**
+ * Returns true if the asset is closed, false else.
+ */
+Asset.virtual('isClosed').get(function() {
+  const closedAt = get(this, 'closedAt', null);
+  if (closedAt === null) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return closedAt.getTime() <= new Date().getTime();
+});
+
+module.exports = Asset;
diff --git a/models/schema/comment.js b/models/schema/comment.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ef5434d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/schema/comment.js
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+const mongoose = require('../../services/mongoose');
+const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
+const TagLinkSchema = require('./tag_link');
+const uuid = require('uuid');
+const COMMENT_STATUS = require('../enum/comment_status');
+
+/**
+ * The Mongo schema for a Comment Status.
+ * @type {Schema}
+ */
+const Status = new Schema(
+  {
+    type: {
+      type: String,
+      enum: COMMENT_STATUS,
+    },
+
+    // The User ID of the user that assigned the status.
+    assigned_by: {
+      type: String,
+      default: null,
+    },
+
+    created_at: Date,
+  },
+  {
+    _id: false,
+  }
+);
+
+/**
+ * A record of old body values for a Comment
+ */
+const BodyHistoryItemSchema = new Schema({
+  body: {
+    required: true,
+    type: String,
+  },
+
+  // datetime until the comment body value was this.body
+  created_at: {
+    required: true,
+    type: Date,
+    default: Date,
+  },
+});
+
+/**
+ * The Mongo schema for a Comment.
+ * @type {Schema}
+ */
+const Comment = new Schema(
+  {
+    id: {
+      type: String,
+      default: uuid.v4,
+      unique: true,
+    },
+    body: {
+      type: String,
+      required: [true, 'The body is required.'],
+      minlength: 2,
+    },
+    body_history: [BodyHistoryItemSchema],
+    asset_id: String,
+    author_id: String,
+    status_history: [Status],
+    status: {
+      type: String,
+      enum: COMMENT_STATUS,
+      default: 'NONE',
+    },
+
+    // parent_id is the id of the parent comment (null if there is none).
+    parent_id: String,
+
+    // The number of replies to this comment directly.
+    reply_count: {
+      type: Number,
+      default: 0,
+    },
+
+    // Counts to store related to actions taken on the given comment.
+    action_counts: {
+      default: {},
+      type: Object,
+    },
+
+    // Tags are added by the self or by administrators.
+    tags: [TagLinkSchema],
+
+    // Additional metadata stored on the field.
+    metadata: {
+      default: {},
+      type: Object,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    timestamps: {
+      createdAt: 'created_at',
+      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
+    },
+    toJSON: {
+      virtuals: true,
+    },
+  }
+);
+
+// Add the indexes for the id of the comment.
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    id: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    unique: true,
+    background: false,
+  }
+);
+
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    status: 1,
+    created_at: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    status: 1,
+    created_at: 1,
+    asset_id: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// Create a sparse index to search across.
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    created_at: 1,
+    'action_counts.flag': 1,
+    status: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+    sparse: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// Create a sparse index to search across.
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    'action_counts.flag': 1,
+    status: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+    sparse: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// Add an index that is optimized for finding flagged comments.
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    asset_id: 1,
+    created_at: 1,
+    'action_counts.flag': 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// Add an index for the reply sort.
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    asset_id: 1,
+    created_at: -1,
+    reply_count: -1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// Optimize for tag searches/counts.
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    asset_id: 1,
+    'tags.tag.name': 1,
+    status: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// Optimize for tag searches/counts.
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    'tags.tag.name': 1,
+    status: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+    sparse: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// Add an index that is optimized for sorting based on the created_at timestamp
+// but also good at locating comments that have a specific asset id.
+Comment.index(
+  {
+    asset_id: 1,
+    created_at: 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+Comment.virtual('edited').get(function() {
+  return this.body_history.length > 1;
+});
+
+// Visible is true when the comment is visible to the public.
+Comment.virtual('visible').get(function() {
+  return ['ACCEPTED', 'NONE'].includes(this.status);
+});
+
+module.exports = Comment;
diff --git a/models/schema/index.js b/models/schema/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..976b437c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/schema/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+const { CREATE_MONGO_INDEXES } = require('../../config');
+
+const Action = require('./action');
+const Asset = require('./asset');
+const Comment = require('./comment');
+const Migration = require('./migration');
+const Setting = require('./setting');
+const User = require('./user');
+
+const schema = { Action, Asset, Comment, Migration, Setting, User };
+
+// Provide the schema to each of the plugins so that they can add in indexes if
+// it is enabled.
+if (CREATE_MONGO_INDEXES) {
+  const plugins = require('../../services/plugins');
+  plugins.get('server', 'indexes').map(({ indexes }) => {
+    indexes(schema);
+  });
+}
+
+module.exports = schema;
diff --git a/models/schema/migration.js b/models/schema/migration.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a8d0e6db5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/schema/migration.js
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+const mongoose = require('../../services/mongoose');
+const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
+
+const Migration = new Schema({
+  version: Number,
+});
+
+module.exports = Migration;
diff --git a/models/schema/setting.js b/models/schema/setting.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e226e6cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/schema/setting.js
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+const mongoose = require('../../services/mongoose');
+const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
+const TagSchema = require('./tag');
+const MODERATION_OPTIONS = require('../enum/moderation_options');
+
+/**
+ * Setting manages application settings that get used on front and backend.
+ * @type {Schema}
+ */
+const Setting = new Schema(
+  {
+    id: {
+      type: String,
+      default: '1',
+    },
+    moderation: {
+      type: String,
+      enum: MODERATION_OPTIONS,
+      default: 'POST',
+    },
+    infoBoxEnable: {
+      type: Boolean,
+      default: false,
+    },
+    customCssUrl: {
+      type: String,
+      default: '',
+    },
+    infoBoxContent: {
+      type: String,
+      default: '',
+    },
+    questionBoxEnable: {
+      type: Boolean,
+      default: false,
+    },
+    questionBoxIcon: {
+      type: String,
+      default: 'default',
+    },
+    questionBoxContent: {
+      type: String,
+      default: '',
+    },
+    premodLinksEnable: {
+      type: Boolean,
+      default: false,
+    },
+    organizationName: {
+      type: String,
+    },
+    autoCloseStream: {
+      type: Boolean,
+      default: false,
+    },
+    closedTimeout: {
+      type: Number,
+
+      // Two weeks default expiry.
+      default: 60 * 60 * 24 * 7 * 2,
+    },
+    closedMessage: {
+      type: String,
+      default: 'Expired',
+    },
+    wordlist: {
+      banned: {
+        type: Array,
+        default: [],
+      },
+      suspect: {
+        type: Array,
+        default: [],
+      },
+    },
+    charCount: {
+      type: Number,
+      default: 5000,
+    },
+    charCountEnable: {
+      type: Boolean,
+      default: false,
+    },
+    requireEmailConfirmation: {
+      type: Boolean,
+      default: false,
+    },
+    domains: {
+      whitelist: {
+        type: Array,
+        default: ['localhost'],
+      },
+    },
+
+    // Length of time (in milliseconds) after a comment is posted that it can still be edited by the author
+    editCommentWindowLength: {
+      type: Number,
+      min: [0, 'Edit Comment Window length must be greater than zero'],
+      default: 30 * 1000,
+    },
+    tags: [TagSchema],
+
+    // Additional metadata to let plugins write settings.
+    metadata: {
+      default: {},
+      type: Object,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    timestamps: {
+      createdAt: 'created_at',
+      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
+    },
+    toObject: {
+      transform: (doc, ret) => {
+        delete ret._id;
+        delete ret.__v;
+
+        return ret;
+      },
+    },
+  }
+);
+
+/**
+ * Merges two settings objects.
+ */
+Setting.method('merge', function(src) {
+  Setting.eachPath(path => {
+    // Exclude internal fields...
+    if (['id', '_id', '__v', 'created_at', 'updated_at'].includes(path)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // If the source object contains the path, shallow copy it.
+    if (path in src) {
+      this[path] = src[path];
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+module.exports = Setting;
diff --git a/models/schema/user.js b/models/schema/user.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ec9c018cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/schema/user.js
@@ -0,0 +1,375 @@
+const mongoose = require('../../services/mongoose');
+const bcrypt = require('bcryptjs');
+const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
+const uuid = require('uuid');
+const TagLink = require('./tag_link');
+const Token = require('./token');
+const can = require('../../perms');
+const { get } = require('lodash');
+
+// USER_ROLES is the array of roles that is permissible as a user role.
+const USER_ROLES = require('../enum/user_roles');
+
+// USER_STATUS_USERNAME is the list of statuses that are supported by storing
+// the username state.
+const USER_STATUS_USERNAME = require('../enum/user_status_username');
+
+// Profile is the mongoose schema defined as the representation of a
+// User's profile stored in MongoDB.
+const Profile = new Schema(
+  {
+    // ID provides the identifier for the user profile, in the case of a local
+    // provider, the id would be an email, in the case of a social provider,
+    // the id would be the foreign providers identifier.
+    id: {
+      type: String,
+      required: true,
+    },
+
+    // Provider is simply the name attached to the authentication mode. In the
+    // case of a locally provided profile, this will simply be `local`, or a
+    // social provider which for Facebook would just be `facebook`.
+    provider: {
+      type: String,
+      required: true,
+    },
+
+    // Metadata provides a place to put provider specific details. An example of
+    // something that could be stored here is the `metadata.confirmed_at` could be
+    // used by the `local` provider to indicate when the email address was
+    // confirmed.
+    metadata: {
+      type: Schema.Types.Mixed,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    _id: false,
+  }
+);
+
+// User is the mongoose schema defined as the representation of a User in
+// MongoDB.
+const User = new Schema(
+  {
+    // This ID represents the most unique identifier for a user, it is generated
+    // when the user is created as a random uuid.
+    id: {
+      type: String,
+      default: uuid.v4,
+      unique: true,
+      required: true,
+    },
+
+    // This is sourced from the social provider or set manually during user setup
+    // and simply provides a name to display for the given user.
+    username: {
+      type: String,
+      required: true,
+    },
+
+    // TODO: find a way that we can instead utilize MongoDB 3.4's collation
+    // options to build the index in a case insenstive manner:
+    // https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/collation/
+    lowercaseUsername: {
+      type: String,
+      required: true,
+      unique: true,
+    },
+
+    // This provides a source of identity proof for users who login using the
+    // local provider. A local provider will be assumed for users who do not
+    // have any social profiles.
+    password: String,
+
+    // Profiles describes the array of identities for a given user. Any one user
+    // can have multiple profiles associated with them, including multiple email
+    // addresses.
+    profiles: [Profile],
+
+    // Tokens are the individual personal access tokens for a given user.
+    tokens: [Token],
+
+    // Role is the specific user role that the user holds.
+    role: {
+      type: String,
+      enum: USER_ROLES,
+      required: true,
+      default: 'COMMENTER',
+    },
+
+    // Status stores the user status information regarding permissions,
+    // capabilities and moderation state.
+    status: {
+      // Username stores the current user status for the username as well as the
+      // history of changes.
+      username: {
+        // Status stores the current username status.
+        status: {
+          type: String,
+          enum: USER_STATUS_USERNAME,
+        },
+
+        // History stores the history of username status changes.
+        history: [
+          {
+            // Status stores the historical username status.
+            status: {
+              type: String,
+              enum: USER_STATUS_USERNAME,
+            },
+
+            // assigned_by stores the user id of the user who assigned this status.
+            assigned_by: { type: String, default: null },
+
+            // created_at stores the date when this status was assigned.
+            created_at: { type: Date, default: Date.now },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+
+      // Banned stores the current user banned status as well as the history of
+      // changes.
+      banned: {
+        // Status stores the current user banned status.
+        status: {
+          type: Boolean,
+          required: true,
+          default: false,
+        },
+        history: [
+          {
+            // Status stores the historical banned status.
+            status: Boolean,
+
+            // assigned_by stores the user id of the user who assigned this status.
+            assigned_by: { type: String, default: null },
+
+            // message stores the email content sent to the user.
+            message: { type: String, default: null },
+
+            // created_at stores the date when this status was assigned.
+            created_at: { type: Date, default: Date.now },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+
+      // Suspension stores the current user suspension status as well as the
+      // history of changes.
+      suspension: {
+        // until is the date that the user is suspended until.
+        until: {
+          type: Date,
+          default: null,
+        },
+        history: [
+          {
+            // until is the date that the user is suspended until.
+            until: Date,
+
+            // assigned_by stores the user id of the user who assigned this status.
+            assigned_by: { type: String, default: null },
+
+            // message stores the email content sent to the user.
+            message: { type: String, default: null },
+
+            // created_at stores the date when this status was assigned.
+            created_at: { type: Date, default: Date.now },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    },
+
+    // IgnoresUsers is an array of user id's that the current user is ignoring.
+    ignoresUsers: [String],
+
+    // Counts to store related to actions taken on the given user.
+    action_counts: {
+      default: {},
+      type: Object,
+    },
+
+    // Tags are added by the self or by administrators.
+    tags: [TagLink],
+
+    // Additional metadata stored on the field.
+    metadata: {
+      default: {},
+      type: Object,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    // This will ensure that we have proper timestamps available on this model.
+    timestamps: {
+      createdAt: 'created_at',
+      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
+    },
+
+    toJSON: {
+      transform: function(doc, ret) {
+        delete ret.__v;
+        delete ret._id;
+        delete ret.password;
+      },
+    },
+  }
+);
+
+// Add the index on the user profile data.
+User.index(
+  {
+    'profiles.id': 1,
+    'profiles.provider': 1,
+  },
+  {
+    unique: true,
+    background: false,
+  }
+);
+
+User.index(
+  {
+    lowercaseUsername: 1,
+    'profiles.id': 1,
+    created_at: -1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// This query is executed often, to count the number of flagged accounts with
+// usernames.
+User.index(
+  {
+    'action_counts.flag': 1,
+    'status.username.status': 1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+// Sorting users by created at is the default people search.
+User.index(
+  {
+    created_at: -1,
+  },
+  {
+    background: true,
+  }
+);
+
+/**
+ * returns true if a commenter is staff
+ */
+User.method('isStaff', function() {
+  return this.role !== 'COMMENTER';
+});
+
+/**
+ * This verifies that a password is valid.
+ */
+User.method('verifyPassword', function(password) {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    bcrypt.compare(password, this.password, (err, res) => {
+      if (err) {
+        return reject(err);
+      }
+
+      if (!res) {
+        return resolve(false);
+      }
+
+      return resolve(true);
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+/**
+ * Can returns true if the user is allowed to perform a specific graph
+ * operation.
+ */
+User.method('can', function(...actions) {
+  return can(this, ...actions);
+});
+
+/**
+ * firstEmail will return the first email on the user.
+ */
+User.virtual('firstEmail').get(function() {
+  const emails = this.emails;
+  if (emails.length === 0) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  return emails[0];
+});
+
+/**
+ * emails will return all the emails on a user.
+ */
+User.virtual('emails').get(function() {
+  return (this.profiles || [])
+    .filter(({ provider }) => provider === 'local')
+    .map(({ id }) => id);
+});
+
+/**
+ * hasVerifiedEmail will return true if at least one of the local email accounts
+ * have their email verified.
+ */
+User.virtual('hasVerifiedEmail').get(function() {
+  return this.profiles
+    .filter(({ provider }) => provider === 'local')
+    .some(profile => {
+      const confirmedAt = get(profile, 'metadata.confirmed_at') || null;
+
+      // If the profile doesn't have a metadata field, or it does not have a
+      // confirmed_at field, or that field is null, then send them back.
+      return confirmedAt !== null;
+    });
+});
+
+User.virtual('system')
+  .get(function() {
+    return this._system;
+  })
+  .set(function(system) {
+    this._system = system;
+  });
+
+/**
+ * banned returns true when the user is currently banned, and sets the banned
+ * status locally.
+ */
+User.virtual('banned')
+  .get(function() {
+    return this.status.banned.status;
+  })
+  .set(function(status) {
+    this.status.banned.status = status;
+    this.status.banned.history.push({
+      status,
+      created_at: new Date(),
+    });
+  });
+
+/**
+ * suspended returns true when the user is currently suspended, and sets the
+ * suspension status locally.
+ */
+User.virtual('suspended')
+  .get(function() {
+    return Boolean(
+      this.status.suspension.until && this.status.suspension.until > new Date()
+    );
+  })
+  .set(function(until) {
+    this.status.suspension.until = until;
+    this.status.suspension.history.push({
+      until,
+      created_at: new Date(),
+    });
+  });
+
+module.exports = User;
diff --git a/models/setting.js b/models/setting.js
index 1cca9c989..48a495ad2 100644
--- a/models/setting.js
+++ b/models/setting.js
@@ -1,147 +1,4 @@
 const mongoose = require('../services/mongoose');
-const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
-const TagSchema = require('./schema/tag');
-const MODERATION_OPTIONS = require('./enum/moderation_options');
+const { Setting } = require('./schema');
 
-/**
- * SettingSchema manages application settings that get used on front and backend.
- * @type {Schema}
- */
-const SettingSchema = new Schema(
-  {
-    id: {
-      type: String,
-      default: '1',
-    },
-    moderation: {
-      type: String,
-      enum: MODERATION_OPTIONS,
-      default: 'POST',
-    },
-    infoBoxEnable: {
-      type: Boolean,
-      default: false,
-    },
-    customCssUrl: {
-      type: String,
-      default: '',
-    },
-    infoBoxContent: {
-      type: String,
-      default: '',
-    },
-    questionBoxEnable: {
-      type: Boolean,
-      default: false,
-    },
-    questionBoxIcon: {
-      type: String,
-      default: 'default',
-    },
-    questionBoxContent: {
-      type: String,
-      default: '',
-    },
-    premodLinksEnable: {
-      type: Boolean,
-      default: false,
-    },
-    organizationName: {
-      type: String,
-    },
-    autoCloseStream: {
-      type: Boolean,
-      default: false,
-    },
-    closedTimeout: {
-      type: Number,
-
-      // Two weeks default expiry.
-      default: 60 * 60 * 24 * 7 * 2,
-    },
-    closedMessage: {
-      type: String,
-      default: 'Expired',
-    },
-    wordlist: {
-      banned: {
-        type: Array,
-        default: [],
-      },
-      suspect: {
-        type: Array,
-        default: [],
-      },
-    },
-    charCount: {
-      type: Number,
-      default: 5000,
-    },
-    charCountEnable: {
-      type: Boolean,
-      default: false,
-    },
-    requireEmailConfirmation: {
-      type: Boolean,
-      default: false,
-    },
-    domains: {
-      whitelist: {
-        type: Array,
-        default: ['localhost'],
-      },
-    },
-
-    // Length of time (in milliseconds) after a comment is posted that it can still be edited by the author
-    editCommentWindowLength: {
-      type: Number,
-      min: [0, 'Edit Comment Window length must be greater than zero'],
-      default: 30 * 1000,
-    },
-    tags: [TagSchema],
-
-    // Additional metadata to let plugins write settings.
-    metadata: {
-      default: {},
-      type: Object,
-    },
-  },
-  {
-    timestamps: {
-      createdAt: 'created_at',
-      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
-    },
-    toObject: {
-      transform: (doc, ret) => {
-        delete ret._id;
-        delete ret.__v;
-
-        return ret;
-      },
-    },
-  }
-);
-
-/**
- * Merges two settings objects.
- */
-SettingSchema.method('merge', function(src) {
-  SettingSchema.eachPath(path => {
-    // Exclude internal fields...
-    if (['id', '_id', '__v', 'created_at', 'updated_at'].includes(path)) {
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // If the source object contains the path, shallow copy it.
-    if (path in src) {
-      this[path] = src[path];
-    }
-  });
-});
-
-/**
- * The Mongo Mongoose object.
- */
-const Setting = mongoose.model('Setting', SettingSchema);
-
-module.exports = Setting;
+module.exports = mongoose.model('Setting', Setting);
diff --git a/models/user.js b/models/user.js
index 717e43a88..842a8de79 100644
--- a/models/user.js
+++ b/models/user.js
@@ -1,378 +1,4 @@
 const mongoose = require('../services/mongoose');
-const bcrypt = require('bcryptjs');
-const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
-const uuid = require('uuid');
-const TagLinkSchema = require('./schema/tag_link');
-const TokenSchema = require('./schema/token');
-const can = require('../perms');
-const { get } = require('lodash');
+const { User } = require('./schema');
 
-// USER_ROLES is the array of roles that is permissible as a user role.
-const USER_ROLES = require('./enum/user_roles');
-
-// USER_STATUS_USERNAME is the list of statuses that are supported by storing
-// the username state.
-const USER_STATUS_USERNAME = require('./enum/user_status_username');
-
-// ProfileSchema is the mongoose schema defined as the representation of a
-// User's profile stored in MongoDB.
-const ProfileSchema = new Schema(
-  {
-    // ID provides the identifier for the user profile, in the case of a local
-    // provider, the id would be an email, in the case of a social provider,
-    // the id would be the foreign providers identifier.
-    id: {
-      type: String,
-      required: true,
-    },
-
-    // Provider is simply the name attached to the authentication mode. In the
-    // case of a locally provided profile, this will simply be `local`, or a
-    // social provider which for Facebook would just be `facebook`.
-    provider: {
-      type: String,
-      required: true,
-    },
-
-    // Metadata provides a place to put provider specific details. An example of
-    // something that could be stored here is the `metadata.confirmed_at` could be
-    // used by the `local` provider to indicate when the email address was
-    // confirmed.
-    metadata: {
-      type: Schema.Types.Mixed,
-    },
-  },
-  {
-    _id: false,
-  }
-);
-
-// UserSchema is the mongoose schema defined as the representation of a User in
-// MongoDB.
-const UserSchema = new Schema(
-  {
-    // This ID represents the most unique identifier for a user, it is generated
-    // when the user is created as a random uuid.
-    id: {
-      type: String,
-      default: uuid.v4,
-      unique: true,
-      required: true,
-    },
-
-    // This is sourced from the social provider or set manually during user setup
-    // and simply provides a name to display for the given user.
-    username: {
-      type: String,
-      required: true,
-    },
-
-    // TODO: find a way that we can instead utilize MongoDB 3.4's collation
-    // options to build the index in a case insenstive manner:
-    // https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/collation/
-    lowercaseUsername: {
-      type: String,
-      required: true,
-      unique: true,
-    },
-
-    // This provides a source of identity proof for users who login using the
-    // local provider. A local provider will be assumed for users who do not
-    // have any social profiles.
-    password: String,
-
-    // Profiles describes the array of identities for a given user. Any one user
-    // can have multiple profiles associated with them, including multiple email
-    // addresses.
-    profiles: [ProfileSchema],
-
-    // Tokens are the individual personal access tokens for a given user.
-    tokens: [TokenSchema],
-
-    // Role is the specific user role that the user holds.
-    role: {
-      type: String,
-      enum: USER_ROLES,
-      required: true,
-      default: 'COMMENTER',
-    },
-
-    // Status stores the user status information regarding permissions,
-    // capabilities and moderation state.
-    status: {
-      // Username stores the current user status for the username as well as the
-      // history of changes.
-      username: {
-        // Status stores the current username status.
-        status: {
-          type: String,
-          enum: USER_STATUS_USERNAME,
-        },
-
-        // History stores the history of username status changes.
-        history: [
-          {
-            // Status stores the historical username status.
-            status: {
-              type: String,
-              enum: USER_STATUS_USERNAME,
-            },
-
-            // assigned_by stores the user id of the user who assigned this status.
-            assigned_by: { type: String, default: null },
-
-            // created_at stores the date when this status was assigned.
-            created_at: { type: Date, default: Date.now },
-          },
-        ],
-      },
-
-      // Banned stores the current user banned status as well as the history of
-      // changes.
-      banned: {
-        // Status stores the current user banned status.
-        status: {
-          type: Boolean,
-          required: true,
-          default: false,
-        },
-        history: [
-          {
-            // Status stores the historical banned status.
-            status: Boolean,
-
-            // assigned_by stores the user id of the user who assigned this status.
-            assigned_by: { type: String, default: null },
-
-            // message stores the email content sent to the user.
-            message: { type: String, default: null },
-
-            // created_at stores the date when this status was assigned.
-            created_at: { type: Date, default: Date.now },
-          },
-        ],
-      },
-
-      // Suspension stores the current user suspension status as well as the
-      // history of changes.
-      suspension: {
-        // until is the date that the user is suspended until.
-        until: {
-          type: Date,
-          default: null,
-        },
-        history: [
-          {
-            // until is the date that the user is suspended until.
-            until: Date,
-
-            // assigned_by stores the user id of the user who assigned this status.
-            assigned_by: { type: String, default: null },
-
-            // message stores the email content sent to the user.
-            message: { type: String, default: null },
-
-            // created_at stores the date when this status was assigned.
-            created_at: { type: Date, default: Date.now },
-          },
-        ],
-      },
-    },
-
-    // IgnoresUsers is an array of user id's that the current user is ignoring.
-    ignoresUsers: [String],
-
-    // Counts to store related to actions taken on the given user.
-    action_counts: {
-      default: {},
-      type: Object,
-    },
-
-    // Tags are added by the self or by administrators.
-    tags: [TagLinkSchema],
-
-    // Additional metadata stored on the field.
-    metadata: {
-      default: {},
-      type: Object,
-    },
-  },
-  {
-    // This will ensure that we have proper timestamps available on this model.
-    timestamps: {
-      createdAt: 'created_at',
-      updatedAt: 'updated_at',
-    },
-
-    toJSON: {
-      transform: function(doc, ret) {
-        delete ret.__v;
-        delete ret._id;
-        delete ret.password;
-      },
-    },
-  }
-);
-
-// Add the index on the user profile data.
-UserSchema.index(
-  {
-    'profiles.id': 1,
-    'profiles.provider': 1,
-  },
-  {
-    unique: true,
-    background: false,
-  }
-);
-
-UserSchema.index(
-  {
-    lowercaseUsername: 1,
-    'profiles.id': 1,
-    created_at: -1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// This query is executed often, to count the number of flagged accounts with
-// usernames.
-UserSchema.index(
-  {
-    'action_counts.flag': 1,
-    'status.username.status': 1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-// Sorting users by created at is the default people search.
-UserSchema.index(
-  {
-    created_at: -1,
-  },
-  {
-    background: true,
-  }
-);
-
-/**
- * returns true if a commenter is staff
- */
-UserSchema.method('isStaff', function() {
-  return this.role !== 'COMMENTER';
-});
-
-/**
- * This verifies that a password is valid.
- */
-UserSchema.method('verifyPassword', function(password) {
-  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-    bcrypt.compare(password, this.password, (err, res) => {
-      if (err) {
-        return reject(err);
-      }
-
-      if (!res) {
-        return resolve(false);
-      }
-
-      return resolve(true);
-    });
-  });
-});
-
-/**
- * Can returns true if the user is allowed to perform a specific graph
- * operation.
- */
-UserSchema.method('can', function(...actions) {
-  return can(this, ...actions);
-});
-
-/**
- * firstEmail will return the first email on the user.
- */
-UserSchema.virtual('firstEmail').get(function() {
-  const emails = this.emails;
-  if (emails.length === 0) {
-    return null;
-  }
-
-  return emails[0];
-});
-
-/**
- * emails will return all the emails on a user.
- */
-UserSchema.virtual('emails').get(function() {
-  return (this.profiles || [])
-    .filter(({ provider }) => provider === 'local')
-    .map(({ id }) => id);
-});
-
-/**
- * hasVerifiedEmail will return true if at least one of the local email accounts
- * have their email verified.
- */
-UserSchema.virtual('hasVerifiedEmail').get(function() {
-  return this.profiles
-    .filter(({ provider }) => provider === 'local')
-    .some(profile => {
-      const confirmedAt = get(profile, 'metadata.confirmed_at') || null;
-
-      // If the profile doesn't have a metadata field, or it does not have a
-      // confirmed_at field, or that field is null, then send them back.
-      return confirmedAt !== null;
-    });
-});
-
-UserSchema.virtual('system')
-  .get(function() {
-    return this._system;
-  })
-  .set(function(system) {
-    this._system = system;
-  });
-
-/**
- * banned returns true when the user is currently banned, and sets the banned
- * status locally.
- */
-UserSchema.virtual('banned')
-  .get(function() {
-    return this.status.banned.status;
-  })
-  .set(function(status) {
-    this.status.banned.status = status;
-    this.status.banned.history.push({
-      status,
-      created_at: new Date(),
-    });
-  });
-
-/**
- * suspended returns true when the user is currently suspended, and sets the
- * suspension status locally.
- */
-UserSchema.virtual('suspended')
-  .get(function() {
-    return Boolean(
-      this.status.suspension.until && this.status.suspension.until > new Date()
-    );
-  })
-  .set(function(until) {
-    this.status.suspension.until = until;
-    this.status.suspension.history.push({
-      until,
-      created_at: new Date(),
-    });
-  });
-
-// Create the User model.
-const UserModel = mongoose.model('User', UserSchema);
-
-module.exports = UserModel;
+module.exports = mongoose.model('User', User);
diff --git a/plugin-api/beta/server/getReactionConfig.js b/plugin-api/beta/server/getReactionConfig.js
index 40832ef74..da075d76c 100644
--- a/plugin-api/beta/server/getReactionConfig.js
+++ b/plugin-api/beta/server/getReactionConfig.js
@@ -2,24 +2,23 @@ const { SEARCH_OTHER_USERS } = require('../../../perms/constants');
 const { ErrNotFound, ErrAlreadyExists } = require('../../../errors');
 const pluralize = require('pluralize');
 const sc = require('snake-case');
-const CommentModel = require('../../../models/comment');
-const { CREATE_MONGO_INDEXES } = require('../../../config');
+// const { CREATE_MONGO_INDEXES } = require('../../../config');
 
 function getReactionConfig(reaction) {
   reaction = reaction.toLowerCase();
 
-  if (CREATE_MONGO_INDEXES) {
-    // Create the index on the comment model based on the reaction config.
-    CommentModel.collection.createIndex(
-      {
-        created_at: 1,
-        [`action_counts.${sc(reaction)}`]: 1,
-      },
-      {
-        background: true,
-      }
-    );
-  }
+  // if (CREATE_MONGO_INDEXES) {
+  //   // Create the index on the comment model based on the reaction config.
+  //   CommentModel.collection.createIndex(
+  //     {
+  //       created_at: 1,
+  //       [`action_counts.${sc(reaction)}`]: 1,
+  //     },
+  //     {
+  //       background: true,
+  //     }
+  //   );
+  // }
 
   const reactionPlural = pluralize(reaction);
   const Reaction = reaction.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + reaction.slice(1);
@@ -128,8 +127,8 @@ function getReactionConfig(reaction) {
 
   return {
     typeDefs,
-    schemas: ({ CommentSchema }) => {
-      CommentSchema.index(
+    indexes: ({ Comment }) => {
+      Comment.index(
         {
           created_at: 1,
           [`action_counts.${sc(reaction)}`]: 1,