Coverage of school board decisions, classroom initiatives, and stories about students, teachers, and education issues in Duval County.
Featured image for “Duval Schools removes more books, including ‘1984’ graphic adaptation”
A graphic novel adaptation of the literary classic "1984" was one of four books removed from Duval Schools' libraries at October's School Board meeting. | Kailyn Mallicoat, special to Jacksonville Today
October 8, 2026

Duval Schools removes more books, including ‘1984’ graphic adaptation

Two Jodi Picoult novels and a book by Stephen King will be removed, along with the “1984” adaptation.…

Featured image for “Andrew Jackson volleyball program found sisterhood through sports”
Jackson volleyball coach Rochelle Strowder provided each of the five seniors on the 2026 team with a gift box after their Senior Night victory over Ed White on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. From left: Jazmine Kelly, Brayla Hill, Davita Kelly, Natalia Hamilton and Skyler Mitchell. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 8, 2026

Andrew Jackson volleyball program found sisterhood through sports

The volleyball program ended the regular season with a pair of victories after a racially fraught incident in Nassau County…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council member Tyrona Clark-Murray appeals suspension from teaching job”
City Council Member Tyrona Clark-Murray addresses the School Board on March 3, 2026. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 7, 2026

Jacksonville City Council member Tyrona Clark-Murray appeals suspension from teaching job

Tyrona Clark-Murray was suspended without pay for 10 days but says she’ll appeal the decision to the state.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board votes, again, to sell Southbank headquarters”
The Duval School Board voted Oct. 6, 2026, to sell the district's waterfront property to a developer. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 6, 2026

Duval School Board votes, again, to sell Southbank headquarters

In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, the Duval County School Board approved the sale of the Southbank headquarters building to…

Featured image for “Duval Schools and Jaguars Foundation celebrate students for Hispanic Heritage Month”
From left, Aoife Lewis, Shannialia Perez Montero and Nicole Jiang were the winners of the Duval County Public Schools Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest. The trio were celebrated during a luncheon at the Schultz Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 5, 2026

Duval Schools and Jaguars Foundation celebrate students for Hispanic Heritage Month

The school district honored winners of its annual Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest.…

Featured image for “New Venetia Elementary plan a prototype for future Duval elementary schools”
Janelle Cox, a Venetia Elementary parent, tells district officials she's looking forward to a rebuilt school at a community meeting on Sept. 29, 2026, as School Board member Reggie Blount and district COO Jim Culbert look on. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 1, 2026

New Venetia Elementary plan a prototype for future Duval elementary schools

It was standing room only at Hyde Grove Elementary on Tuesday, with 100 people packed into the cafeteria, sitting in…

Featured image for “Duval School Board to consider allowing guns in cars on school property”
Currently, Duval Schools does not allow guns on school property. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
September 30, 2026

Duval School Board to consider allowing guns in cars on school property

Duval County Schools may change its policy and allow employees to store guns in their cars at school.…

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 “Nassau school district finds racial slurs unsubstantiated; calls for accountability mount”
The Rev. Darrien K. Bolden Sr. prayed for unity and love at the outset of a Sept. 15 community conversation following racism accusations at a Sept. 10 volleyball match in Fernandina Beach. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 15, 2026

Nassau school district finds racial slurs unsubstantiated; calls for accountability mount

On Tuesday evening, more than 200 people gathered inside First Missionary Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach to demand more accountability…

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 “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 “How Duval Schools literacy compares to Florida’s largest districts”
A partnership between Communities in Schools Jacksonville, Kids Hope Alliance and the city of Jacksonville led to a Little Free Library at Sallye B. Mathis Elementary School in Northwest Jacksonville on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The effort provided nearly three dozen picture books and chapter books for students. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 10, 2026

How Duval Schools literacy compares to Florida’s largest districts

Duval Schools has historically lagged Florida’s other large urban districts in literacy proficiency.…

Featured image for “Duval and St. Johns schools close budget gaps before new school year”
August 10, 2026

Duval and St. Johns schools close budget gaps before new school year

Duval Schools faced a $100 million shortfall, and St. Johns ended last year $23 million in the red.…

Featured image for “A Duval school reported more fights than any other school in Florida”
August 6, 2026

A Duval school reported more fights than any other school in Florida

Chaffee Trail Middle School reported 117 fights in the 2024-25 school year, the highest total at any grade level.…

Featured image for “Duval school bus drivers threaten strike, but more meetings planned”
A row of Durham School Services buses. | Durham School Services
August 5, 2026

Duval school bus drivers threaten strike, but more meetings planned

Durham School Services will meet with bus drivers this week in an attempt to avert a strike.…

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 “#AskJAXTDY | How can I donate supplies to Duval schools?”
Schools are collecting and distributing school supplies to students in need. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
August 4, 2026

#AskJAXTDY | How can I donate supplies to Duval schools?

Community members can call their local school to ask how to donate school supplies…

Featured image for “Four Democrats face off in Duval School Board District 4 race. Who are they?”
Duval County School Board member Darryl Willie raises his hand in a community meeting about school closures. Four candidates are seeking to replace Willie on the School Board. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 4, 2026

Four Democrats face off in Duval School Board District 4 race. Who are they?

Alfreda Denson Butler, Rhodesia Butler, James Jacobs and Gracie Bell Kearse-McCastler have a competitive race ahead.…

Featured image for “More than 5,200 drivers caught passing Duval school buses illegally”
Cameras on Duval County school buses capture images of people passing illegally. | Nancy Guan, WUSF
August 4, 2026

More than 5,200 drivers caught passing Duval school buses illegally

See where the most school bus violations occurred over two months — and what the drivers did wrong.…

Featured image for “Meet the 3 candidates vying for Duval County School Board District 2 seat”
From left are Duval County School Board candidates Terence Myers, Donovan Bradley and Donna Westrich. | News4Jax
August 3, 2026

Meet the 3 candidates vying for Duval County School Board District 2 seat

Donovan Bradley, Terence Myers and Donna Westrich say they want to keep politics out of the classroom.…

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.…