Megan Mallicoat Reporter email
Megan Mallicoat is a Jacksonville Today reporter focusing on education. Her professional experience includes teaching at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, as well as editing, communications management, web design, and graphic design. She has a doctorate in mass communication with an emphasis in social psychology from UF. In her "free time," you'll most likely find her on the sidelines of some kind of kids’ sports practice, holding a book.
Featured image for “Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools”
Duval Schools' headquarters building, pictured here in March 2026, was going to be sold to Chase Properties, but the deal collapsed. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 26, 2026

Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools

The HQ sale that fell through last month could now be a legal headache for Duval Schools.…

Featured image for “How did Duval Schools’ 7 legislative priorities fare?”
The regular 2026 Florida legislative session ended March 13.
March 18, 2026

How did Duval Schools’ 7 legislative priorities fare?

Most of the district’s legislative priorities went unanswered this session.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board should stop inviting prayers, legal groups warn”
Mike Ludwick (center), seen here singing at a protest before an Oct. 7, 2025, School Board meeting, lodged a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation about the School Board's practice of starting meetings with prayer. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 16, 2026

Duval School Board should stop inviting prayers, legal groups warn

Church-state advocates say starting school board meetings with prayer violates the First Amendment.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Happy birthday, Florida”
March 12, 2026

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Happy birthday, Florida

Our Number of the Week is the median age of the people who live in the Jacksonville metro area: 39.3…

Featured image for “Annie R. Morgan will get new life — just not as a school”
Annie R. Morgan Elementary had served students on Jacksonville’s Westside since 1916 before it closed. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 9, 2026

Annie R. Morgan will get new life — just not as a school

The MyVillage Project agreed to pay $1.25 million for Annie R. Morgan to create a tech incubator.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board seeks to renew 1-mill property tax”
Duval Schools' headquarters building on March 3, 2026. The School Board wants voters to renew a property tax that helps pay teachers. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 4, 2026

Duval School Board seeks to renew 1-mill property tax

The property tax, first approved in 2022, helps pay for teachers’ salaries, arts and athletics programs.…

Featured image for “STEM magnet program at Eugene Butler made official with school name change”
Students at the school soon to be known as Jacksonville STEM Academy at Eugene Butler. | Courtesy of Duval Schools
March 3, 2026

STEM magnet program at Eugene Butler made official with school name change

The School Board renamed the school Jacksonville STEM Academy at Eugene Butler on Tuesday.…

Featured image for “Florida private schools sue Step Up for Students over voucher payout problems”
Jacksonville Attorney Lamonte Carter and iCity Christian School Executive Director Terrie Hairston announce a group of private schools' lawsuit against Step Up For Students on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. | News4Jax
February 22, 2026

Florida private schools sue Step Up for Students over voucher payout problems

Private school owners filed suit against Step Up for Students, the Jacksonville company in charge of handling half a million…

Featured image for “Buyer backs out of deal for Duval Schools headquarters”
The Duval Schools headquaters building on Prudential Drive. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
February 13, 2026

Buyer backs out of deal for Duval Schools headquarters

Chase Properties said it learned of undisclosed financial obligations on the Duval Schools agreement.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Affording housing in Jacksonville”
February 12, 2026

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Affording housing in Jacksonville

More than half of the renting households in the Jax Metro Area spend more than 30% of their monthly income…

Featured image for “Teachers’ union leaders sentenced to prison for stealing $2.5M”
Teresa Brady and her husband, Mark, follow one of her lawyers out of the courthouse after she was sentenced to 27 months in prison on February 9, 2026. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
February 9, 2026

Teachers’ union leaders sentenced to prison for stealing $2.5M

The two former Duval County teachers’ union officers who together embezzled more than $2.5 million were sentenced Monday to prison.…

Featured image for “Parents insist ICE is watching schools; superintendent says no”
Law enforcement officers guard outside an ICE processing facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview on Nov. 21, 2025. | Nam Y. Huh, AP
February 6, 2026

Parents insist ICE is watching schools; superintendent says no

A Jacksonville parents group says at least 40 children are not attending school because of ICE activity.…

Featured image for “State of Florida to cover Duval Schools’ legal defense in free-speech suits by teachers”
February 2, 2026

State of Florida to cover Duval Schools’ legal defense in free-speech suits by teachers

Jacksonville and Clay County teachers are bringing lawsuits alleging free speech violations.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | #AskJAXTDY: Property tax spending on schools?”
1 mill property tax spending by Duval Schools
January 30, 2026

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | #AskJAXTDY: Property tax spending on schools?

This Number of the Week is also an #AskJAXTDY. Jacksonville Today reader Jane G. wonders what happens to the money…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Cam Little’s jumbo kicks”
January 9, 2026

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Cam Little’s jumbo kicks

Our Number of the Week is 1,249, the total yards the ball traveled between Cam Little’s cleat and the 30…

Featured image for “Duval School Board officially opposes Schools of Hope charter expansion”
Duval School Board members watch to see if a motion to add Schools of Hope to the board's 2026 legislative platform will pass. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
January 7, 2026

Duval School Board officially opposes Schools of Hope charter expansion

In a 4-3 vote, board members decided to include an item in their legislative platform that asks for changes to…

Featured image for “Former Duval teachers union president pays back $1.3M”
Teresa Brady is a former president of Duval Teachers United, the district's teachers union.
December 31, 2025

Former Duval teachers union president pays back $1.3M

Teresa Brady, former president of Duval Teachers United, transferred $1.3 million to a government account in December.…

Featured image for “Only Merrill Road Elementary, Fort Caroline Middle eyed as Schools of Hope ”
Merrill Road Elementary is one of two schools that remain on Mater Academy's list for Schools of Hope. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 23, 2025

Only Merrill Road Elementary, Fort Caroline Middle eyed as Schools of Hope 

Mater Academy has narrowed its list of 25 buildings to two intended for Schools of Hope in Duval.…

Featured image for “New 3D printing lab lets students explore engineering”
A student from Fort Caroline Elementary sits in the district's new 3D printing lab on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
December 18, 2025

New 3D printing lab lets students explore engineering

Duval Schools students test-drive technology like 3D printing and learn real-world skills at the district’s STEM center.…

Featured image for “City Council members ask for voice on school closures”
A Duval Schools sign hangs on a fence at Long Branch Elementary, one of the district's planned school closures. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 17, 2025

City Council members ask for voice on school closures

Council members Ju’Coby Pittman and Jimmy Peluso say school closures have implications beyond the school district.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | School buses: Transporting Duval students”
How many school buses are on time? | Data: Duval Schools; Chart: Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
December 12, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | School buses: Transporting Duval students

In Duval County, most school buses — about two-thirds — arrive at school by the time they’re scheduled to arrive.…

Featured image for “The $100M question: Was Duval Schools actually in ‘debt’?”
Duval Schools CFO Ron Fagan, left, gives a presentation to school board members about the district's finances on Dec. 8, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
December 10, 2025

The $100M question: Was Duval Schools actually in ‘debt’?

Duval Schools’ financial position is “strong,” according to its CFO, and what Superintendent Christopher Bernier characterized as “$100 million debt”…

Featured image for “Duval Schools sued over teachers’ right to free speech”
Haley Bartlett, John Phillips, and Hope McMath at a news conference in Phillips' office Monday. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
December 8, 2025

Duval Schools sued over teachers’ right to free speech

The teachers’ complaints allege their right to free speech was violated.…

Featured image for “A change to who reviews challenged books for Duval Schools”
Protestors demonstrate against removing challenged books from school libraries on Dec. 1, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 2, 2025

A change to who reviews challenged books for Duval Schools

School board members will now each appoint a parent to the committee that reviews challenged books.…