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 “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
32 minutes ago

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.…

Featured image for “2 more Duval elementary schools will close ”
Long Branch Elementary has served students on Jacksonville's Eastside for 108 years. The Duval County School Board voted to close the school and merge it with R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
21 hours ago

2 more Duval elementary schools will close 

Over community objections, the Duval County School Board voted unanimously Monday to close two more elementary schools — but later…

Featured image for “‘$100M debt’? Duval superintendent presents rosier financial picture amid school closures”
Duval Schools Superintendent Christopher Bernier has changed the way he talks about the district's finances amid the latest round of proposed school closures. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
2 days ago

‘$100M debt’? Duval superintendent presents rosier financial picture amid school closures

The way Bernier talks about the urgency of school closures has done something of a 180 — from needing to…

Featured image for “Duval Schools asks Jax Library to cut student access to book apps”
Library shelves at Long Branch Elementary | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 25, 2025

Duval Schools asks Jax Library to cut student access to book apps

The library access issue comes as the School Board will vote Monday on changes to its policy for reviewing challenged…

Featured image for “3 charter school operators target Duval for Schools of Hope”
Duval Schools headquarters | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 18, 2025

3 charter school operators target Duval for Schools of Hope

Three charter companies outlined plans to open “Schools of Hope” within dozens of Duval school buildings.…

Featured image for “How to enroll in Duval County Public Schools for 2026 | JAX TODAY GUIDE ”
Duval Schools headquarters | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 14, 2025

How to enroll in Duval County Public Schools for 2026 | JAX TODAY GUIDE 

If you’re looking to enroll a first-time student in Duval Schools or switch schools for this coming fall, here’s what…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | House fires in Jacksonville”
November 14, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | House fires in Jacksonville

So far in 2025, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has responded to 421 house fires.…

Featured image for “Check out Duval Schools’ School Enrollment Expo before lottery begins Dec. 1 ”
Hendricks Avenue Elementary is among the district's more than 140 schools and programs that will be represented at the School Enrollment Expo. | Jacksonville Today
November 13, 2025

Check out Duval Schools’ School Enrollment Expo before lottery begins Dec. 1 

Now’s the time to start thinking about where to send your kids in the fall of 2026, Duval Schools says.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools HQ to move to Baymeadows after School Board reverses course”
The Duval School Board voted to purchase this office building, currently occupied by Southeastern Grocers, for the district's headquarters. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2025

Duval Schools HQ to move to Baymeadows after School Board reverses course

Duval Schools HQ on the Southbank will be sold in the move to a building on the Southside, following a…

Featured image for “Duval Schools lobbying Tallahassee for Schools of Hope changes ”
Superintendent Chris Bernier talks at a town hall at Riverside High School on Nov. 3, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 4, 2025

Duval Schools lobbying Tallahassee for Schools of Hope changes 

State lawmakers allowed Schools of Hope charters to colocate in district schools, which a Duval School Board member says is…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Home prices tick up”
See the interactive map below for current median home prices across Florida. | Chart by Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 31, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Home prices tick up

Good news if you’re looking to put your house on the market (or spooky news if you’re looking to buy):…

Featured image for “Duval Schools spotlights 67 career and technical programs”
CTE students at Darnell-Cookman School of Medical Art | Provided by Duval Schools
October 30, 2025

Duval Schools spotlights 67 career and technical programs

Explore the district’s career and technical education programs during a showcase Saturday at UNF.…

Featured image for “Charter school company hopes to operate within 25 Duval public schools”
Annie R. Morgan Elementary had served students on Jacksonville’s Westside since 1916 before it closed. Mater Academy plans to move into its vacant building. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 23, 2025

Charter school company hopes to operate within 25 Duval public schools

New rules from the state mean districts have to let some charter schools use their buildings for free.…

Featured image for “Free speech fight simmers at Duval School Board”
Protesters gather before the Oct. 7 board meeting to show support for a teacher removed over a social media post | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 13, 2025

Free speech fight simmers at Duval School Board

Board members are criticized over speech as they vote to settle with a teacher over his alleged free speech violation,…

Featured image for “Former Duval teachers union president pleads guilty”
The U.S. Courthouse in Jacksonville
October 9, 2025

Former Duval teachers union president pleads guilty

Teresa Brady admitted she and another union official conspired to cash in fraudulent leave time.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board votes down HQ move”
Duval Schools will continued to be headquartered on the Southbank following the School Board's rejection of a sale and purchase of a Southside location. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 7, 2025

Duval School Board votes down HQ move

In dual 0-7 votes, the board passed on the sale of the Prudential Drive property and opted to not purchase…

Featured image for “Free mental health services available to Duval students”
A pair of Miami Arts Studio students hug as others walk between classes on World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, 2023, at the magnet school in Miami. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
October 1, 2025

Free mental health services available to Duval students

Demand for mental health services is at an all-time high among Duval Schools students.…

Featured image for “‘Schools of Hope’ charter operators can use public school buildings, rent-free”
Idea River Bluff is a Schools of Hope charter school in Arlington. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 29, 2025

‘Schools of Hope’ charter operators can use public school buildings, rent-free

The state Board of Education approved changes to charter school rules that public school advocates are decrying.…

Featured image for “Southbank building swap was among offers in Duval Schools’ HQ sale”
Duval Schools considered the Suddath Building at 815 S. Main St. under a land swap offer that the superintendent rejected. | Google Maps
September 22, 2025

Southbank building swap was among offers in Duval Schools’ HQ sale

One of the 10 offers for the sale of the Duval Schools headquarters was a trade for the Suddath building…

Featured image for “School Board members express doubts about HQ move ”
A rendering shows the towers that Fleet Landing envisions for its proposed senior community on Jacksonville's Southbank, on the site of the current Duval Schools headquarters. | Fleet Landing, submitted
September 16, 2025

School Board members express doubts about HQ move 

One sticking point for some board members is whether choosing a nonprofit as the buyer would cheat taxpayers out of…

Featured image for “Duval Schools’ HQ move vote delayed; competing offers kept hidden from public  ”
Duval Schools is considering purchasing this building in the Prominence office park to be its new HQ. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 1, 2025

Duval Schools’ HQ move vote delayed; competing offers kept hidden from public  

Tuesday’s vote will now decide whether to authorize the superintendent to negotiate the needed contracts.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Biggest and smallest Florida cities”
August 22, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Biggest and smallest Florida cities

Separated by just 60 miles and an hour’s drive on I-95, Florida’s biggest city, Jacksonville, and its smallest both sit…

Featured image for “Duval Schools’ prospective buyer plans riverfront retirement community”
A sign outside the Duval Schools headquarters advertises that the property is available on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
August 21, 2025

Duval Schools’ prospective buyer plans riverfront retirement community

The School Board said it chose Fleet Landing’s offer of $20 million among 10 it received.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools could net $6M in HQ move from Downtown to Southside”
Duval Schools' headquarters on Nov. 4, 2024 | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
August 18, 2025

Duval Schools could net $6M in HQ move from Downtown to Southside

Duval Schools is preparing to move the district’s headquarters off of Downtown’s Southbank to the Southside.…