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 “Duval school closures weigh on parents ahead of Venetia Elementary meeting”
Venetia Elementary, seen here on June 24, 2026, is set to be torn down and replaced with a larger building on the same site. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
1 day ago

Duval school closures weigh on parents ahead of Venetia Elementary meeting

The School Board this month voted to pause its plans to rebuild Venetia Elementary — and to change the process…

Featured image for “Judge backs Duval teacher punished for Charlie Kirk posts”
Hope McMath and her attorney, John Phillips, speak at a news conference about the case against her teaching license on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 22, 2026

Judge backs Duval teacher punished for Charlie Kirk posts

The state’s Education Practices Commission will now decide if Hope McMath can keep her teaching license.…

Featured image for “New Baldwin principal removed after gun found in his car at school”
Superintendent Christopher Bernier addresses reporters at a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 15, 2026

New Baldwin principal removed after gun found in his car at school

Michael Smith, the principal of Baldwin Middle-Senior High School, was removed Tuesday after police discovered a loaded handgun in his…

Featured image for “New Baldwin principal has history of misconduct complaints”
Michael Smith, left, leaves a School Board meeting Aug. 4, 2026, after Superintendent Christopher Bernier recognized his new appointment as principal of Baldwin Middle-Senior High School. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 10, 2026

New Baldwin principal has history of misconduct complaints

Baldwin Principal Michael Smith had three complaints that alleged inappropriate conduct toward students.…

Featured image for “Duval teachers union falls short of membership threshold, must hold election to get recertified”
The Duval Teachers United headquarters, as seen in July 2025 | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
September 8, 2026

Duval teachers union falls short of membership threshold, must hold election to get recertified

Duval Teachers United will likely have to hold an election to earn its recertification — under a new state law…

Featured image for “Regency Square Mall among locations eyed for Duval Schools headquarters move”
A map of Jacksonville shows where the district is searching for a new headquarters building. | Duval County School District
August 20, 2026

Regency Square Mall among locations eyed for Duval Schools headquarters move

Duval Schools is considering four options for a headquarters relocation as it also weighs two purchase offers on its Southbank…

Featured image for “Duval School Board candidates take in more money than most in Florida”
Community members raise their hands at a School Board meeting on June 10, 2024, in a show of support for keeping Holiday Hill Elementary open. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
August 16, 2026

Duval School Board candidates take in more money than most in Florida

School board elections in Jacksonville have brought in a lot of money through individual, business and PAC support.…

Featured image for “Stanton student sues Duval Schools over sexual assault on bus”
A Student Transportation of America school bus. | News4Jax
August 10, 2026

Stanton student sues Duval Schools over sexual assault on bus

The federal lawsuit alleges the district failed to prevent rising harassment and assaults on the bus.…

Featured image for “Duval raises school lunch prices again”
Students walk up the steps at Atlantic Beach Elementary School in 2025. | Atlantic Beach Elementary via Facebook
August 4, 2026

Duval raises school lunch prices again

Students will need a little more lunch money when school starts in Duval County next week.…

Featured image for “5 Westside candidates compete for District 6 Duval School Board seat”
A meeting of the Duval County School Board on Jan. 6, 2026. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
August 2, 2026

5 Westside candidates compete for District 6 Duval School Board seat

School board candidates run non-partisan races, so the race could be decided in the primary election.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board election could bring shift in board’s ideology”
The Jacksonville Policy Engagement Group hosted a School Board candidate forum June 23. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
July 14, 2026

Duval School Board election could bring shift in board’s ideology

The election could lead to an ideological shift for a board with a strongly conservative majority.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools investigated ‘list’ of Douglas Anderson teachers 5 years after student sent it”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in January 2025 | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
July 8, 2026

Duval Schools investigated ‘list’ of Douglas Anderson teachers 5 years after student sent it

Five years after receiving an email that named 12 Douglas Anderson teachers alleged of sexual abuse, records show DCPS investigated…

Featured image for “Legal changes will ease prosecution of people who fail to report child abuse”
The Florida Legislature in session on April 29, 2026. | Mike Stewart, AP
July 6, 2026

Legal changes will ease prosecution of people who fail to report child abuse

The law changes the statute of limitations for people like teachers who are required to report any abuse they suspect.…

Featured image for “Parents question Duval school district’s process for closing schools”
The entrance of Ortega Elementary School. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
June 29, 2026

Parents question Duval school district’s process for closing schools

The School Board will decide Wednesday whether to add Ortega Elementary to a list of surplus property, a step toward…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Who gets the money from Duval school bus tickets?”
Cameras on Duval County school buses capture images of people passing illegally. | Nancy Guan, WUSF
June 15, 2026

#AskJAXTDY | Who gets the money from Duval school bus tickets?

Duval Schools ticketed thousands of drivers last month for passing school buses illegally. See where the money went.…

Featured image for “Local developers still want to buy Duval Schools’ headquarters”
June 11, 2026

Local developers still want to buy Duval Schools’ headquarters

Three companies have submitted bids for the school district’s headquarters, which has been for sale for about a year.…

Featured image for “City Council votes to put school tax extension on the ballot”
City Council member Raul Arias motioned to bring the school tax referendum for a vote on June 9, 2026. | City of Jacksonville/screenshot
June 9, 2026

City Council votes to put school tax extension on the ballot

Duval County voters will decide whether to renew a property tax levied by the Duval school district that, in part,…

Featured image for “Records in Jacksonville teacher speech case tie school board member to complaint ”
Hope McMath outside the Duval Schools headquarters at a rally held Oct. 7, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 26, 2026

Records in Jacksonville teacher speech case tie school board member to complaint 

Hope McMath is asking the state to end its investigation of her social media speech, as state records tie the…

Featured image for “Raines High School could be rebuilt earlier than expected, school district says”
William M. Raines High School opened on Jan.y 25, 1965. It was named in honor of longtime local educator who was principal of segregated high schools before his death in 1950. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 15, 2026

Raines High School could be rebuilt earlier than expected, school district says

District officials have talked for years about the need to give Raines High School a new building.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Top 10 Jax Public Library holds, checkouts”
Data provided by Jacksonville Public Library | Chart by Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 8, 2026

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Top 10 Jax Public Library holds, checkouts

Ready to sit down with a good book? The Jacksonville Public Library has thousands to choose from — specifically: 1,790,733 physical…

Featured image for “Duval high schools will start earlier and end later next year”
Students arrive to catch an early morning school bus, Oct. 9, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. | Eric Gay, AP
May 6, 2026

Duval high schools will start earlier and end later next year

Traditional high schools also will drop block scheduling and move to a seven-period daily schedule.…

Featured image for “State education commissioner berates St. Johns County superintendent”
The St. Johns County School District is the highest-performing district in Florida. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
April 24, 2026

State education commissioner berates St. Johns County superintendent

Superintendent Brennan Asplen was upbraided for criticizing Florida’s private school voucher program.…

Featured image for “Dozens of books removed from Duval Schools include ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ and Maya Angelou”
A statue of children reading in front of DCPS headquarters | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
April 23, 2026

Dozens of books removed from Duval Schools include ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ and Maya Angelou

The district continues to remove books from its shelves because of a long-running internal review.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools students get longer Thanksgiving break”
The Duval Schools headquaters building on Prudential Drive. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
April 8, 2026

Duval Schools students get longer Thanksgiving break

The School Board voted to give students and teachers the whole week off at Thanksgiving this fall.…