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 Board clears path toward closing 18 schools”
Members of Raines High School's national alumni association gather before a School Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
2 days ago

Duval School Board clears path toward closing 18 schools

The board approved a five-year plan that suggests closing schools, but more votes and meetings would be required.…

Featured image for “Duval’s 15-year school closure plan up for a vote Tuesday”
Annie R. Morgan Elementary has served students on Jacksonville’s Westside since 1916. It’s named after an early 20th century educator who was on the faculty at what was then named Woodstock Park Elementary. The Duval County school district is considering whether to close the school at the end of the 2025 academic year. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 29, 2024

Duval’s 15-year school closure plan up for a vote Tuesday

Duval Schools’ proposal to close more than schools over the next 15 years is up for a board vote on…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Proposed school closures”
Annie R. Morgan Elementary may be forever padlocked if the Duval County School Board approves a district plan to close the school after the end of the 2024 academic year. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 26, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Proposed school closures

Two dozen more schools could close in Duval County over the next 15 years.…

Featured image for “Duval could close 12 elementary schools within 5 years”
A community working group considers the draft school closure plan on Sept. 24, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 24, 2024

Duval could close 12 elementary schools within 5 years

Six more Duval County schools have been added to a potential closure list for the next five years — adding…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | County sales surtaxes”
September 20, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | County sales surtaxes

See the local sales tax add-ons in each Florida county.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville’s Bridges”
The Mathews Bridge, as seen from the Arlington Marina, connects Downtown Jacksonville with Arlington. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 13, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville’s Bridges

How many people drive across each of Jacksonville’s bridges on an average day…

Featured image for “Douglas Anderson hired teacher after state said he was drunk at previous school — now he’s removed for alleged misconduct”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts on Sept. 12, 2024 | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 12, 2024

Douglas Anderson hired teacher after state said he was drunk at previous school — now he’s removed for alleged misconduct

State records show that at the time the arts school hired him, he was facing state discipline for having been…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville Jaguars fun facts”
Josh Hines-Allen (41) and Roy Robertson Harris (95) lead the Jaguars onto the field during a Monday Night Football game on Monday, Dec. 4, 2024. The Jaguars lost in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 6, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville Jaguars fun facts

Add up all of Trevor Lawrence’s passing yards and you get roughly the distance from EverBank Stadium to the jaguar…

Featured image for “Duval School Board OKs employee ethics policies aimed at keeping kids safer”
Duval Schools HQ | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 3, 2024

Duval School Board OKs employee ethics policies aimed at keeping kids safer

The Duval County School Board unanimously and with little discussion Tuesday approved new employee ethics and professional standards policies.  Tuesday’s…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville Jobs”
August 29, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville Jobs

See where people in the Jacksonville area voted most in this week’s local elections.…

Featured image for “Another Douglas Anderson teacher accused of misconduct”
August 29, 2024

Another Douglas Anderson teacher accused of misconduct

The teacher has been reassigned after allegations they engaged in inappropriate communication with a student during the 2022-23 school year.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Most Northeast Florida voters stayed home in August”
August 22, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Most Northeast Florida voters stayed home in August

See where people in the Jacksonville area voted most in this week’s local elections.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board: 2 Moms for Liberty candidates elected; Pearson wins narrowly”
Cindy Pearson (seen here speaking at a board meeting on May 23, 2024) was reelected by a margin of less than 300 votes. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
August 20, 2024

Duval School Board: 2 Moms for Liberty candidates elected; Pearson wins narrowly

The Duval County School Board will have a Moms for Liberty majority in the fall.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Big bucks in Duval School Board elections”
August 15, 2024

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Big bucks in Duval School Board elections

INTERACTIVE | See how money flows from PACs to the Duval School Board candidates…

Featured image for “Republican-backed School Board candidates key on parental rights”
About two dozen people stand in the rain outside Duval school district headquarters on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. The rally was organized by Public School Defenders and Families for Strong Public Schools, two Jacksonville advocacy groups. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
August 9, 2024

Republican-backed School Board candidates key on parental rights

Parental rights are again a topic of conversation because of the prominent role they play in Florida’s increasingly partisan school…

Featured image for “School Board candidates find common ground at final forum”
District 7 candidates Sarah Mannion, left, and Melody Bolduc discuss the issues facing Duval's schools at a forum Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. | Jacksonville Public Education Fund, screenshot
August 2, 2024

School Board candidates find common ground at final forum

District 7 School Board candidates Melody Bolduc and Sarah Mannion discussed the issues Thursday.…

Featured image for “District 5 School Board candidates – minus Blount – face off”
District 5 candidates Hank Rogers (left) and Nahshon Nicks prepare to debate at a forum on July 30, 2024. | JPEF, screenshot
July 30, 2024

District 5 School Board candidates – minus Blount – face off

Duval School Board District 5 candidates Nahshon Nicks and Hank Rogers answered questions Tuesday night.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board District 1 forum: Ebri alone as Ricardo calls out sick ”
Nadine Ebri answers questions during a District 1 School Board forum on July 25, 2024. | Jacksonville Public Education Fund/screenshot
July 25, 2024

Duval School Board District 1 forum: Ebri alone as Ricardo calls out sick 

Nadine Ebri was one of five Teacher of the Year finalists in Duval County in 2020-21. Tony Ricardo taught at Andrew…

Featured image for “1,100 fewer Duval students qualify for buses this school year ”
July 25, 2024

1,100 fewer Duval students qualify for buses this school year 

Previously, the district bused all students who lived outside a mile-and-a-half radius of their assigned school.…

Featured image for “Nathanson a no-show at Duval School Board District 3 candidate forum”
District 3 School Board incumbent Cindy Pearson speaks at the JPEF candidate forum on July 23. Opponent Becky Nathanson did not attend. | JPEF via web stream
July 23, 2024

Nathanson a no-show at Duval School Board District 3 candidate forum

Rebecca “Becky Nathanson” and Cindy Person are running to represent District 3 on the Duval County School Board.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Who’s behind mailers in School Board District 3 race?”
July 17, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Who’s behind mailers in School Board District 3 race?

Political action committees and parties can spend unlimited money to support candidates — even in school board races, which have…

Featured image for “Duval School Board delays vote on student safety policy ”
Duval Superintendent Chris Bernier talks to reporters after his official swearing-in on July 2, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
July 2, 2024

Duval School Board delays vote on student safety policy 

A final student safety policy will be ready for review at the September Duval School Board meeting.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools releases new student safety plan”
The Duval Schools administration building. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
June 27, 2024

Duval Schools releases new student safety plan

The safety plan is a response to teacher misconduct at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, but it will apply…

Featured image for “Duval is not alone in closing schools”
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
June 19, 2024

Duval is not alone in closing schools

A consultant suggests closing more than 30 Duval schools. Many of Florida’s large, urban districts are looking at the same…