Featured image for “1,100 fewer Duval students qualify for buses this school year ”
1 day ago

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 “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…

Featured image for “Duval teacher wins fight over Black Lives Matter flag”
Amy Donofrio, left, awaits a decision by the Education Practices Commission. | Nandhini Srinivasan, The Tributary
June 17, 2024

Duval teacher wins fight over Black Lives Matter flag

Amy Donofrio will be allowed to keep her teaching license despite the state’s efforts to revoke it.…

Featured image for “Bernier hired as Duval superintendent at $320,000 per year”
Christopher Bernier will take over as Duval Schools superintendent on July 1. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
June 12, 2024

Bernier hired as Duval superintendent at $320,000 per year

The School Board voted 6-1 to hire Christopher Bernier as superintendent. Board member Warren Jones voted no because he thought…

Featured image for “COMPARE | Contract for incoming Duval Superintendent Bernier vs. former Supe Greene”
The Duval Schools administration building on Thursday, May 23, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
June 6, 2024

COMPARE | Contract for incoming Duval Superintendent Bernier vs. former Supe Greene

Duval’s counter offer to Chris Bernier is similar to former Superintendent Diana Greene’s most recent agreement.…

Featured image for “Before Duval superintendent pick’s sudden resignation, a whistleblower complaint ”
Texts from Bernier on the day his separation agreement was to be approved say he wanted to "protect what's left." | Screenshot of texts from Lee Schools
June 3, 2024

Before Duval superintendent pick’s sudden resignation, a whistleblower complaint 

Before he resigned as Lee superintendent, Chris Bernier was the subject of a whistleblower complaint that alleged “bullying” and “racial…

Featured image for “Unbridled Mustang: Mandarin grad hungry to change his hometown”
L.J. Valenzuela will graduate from Mandarin High School with a 4.5 grade point average. He will attend Brown University on a full scholarship in the fall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 30, 2024

Unbridled Mustang: Mandarin grad hungry to change his hometown

L.J. Valenzuela is an activist for LGBTQ rights who loves Jacksonville and plans to return after he earns his degree…

Featured image for “Grit and gain: How Duval Schools looks to curb chronic absenteeism”
The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
May 29, 2024

Grit and gain: How Duval Schools looks to curb chronic absenteeism

More than 27% of Duval County Public Schools students have missed at least four weeks of class this academic year.…

Featured image for “OPINION | At the crossroads in education, don’t be a bystander”
The Duval Schools administration building on Thursday, May 23, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 24, 2024

OPINION | At the crossroads in education, don’t be a bystander

On Tuesday, May 28, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund will host a Community Conversation — an opportunity for us to…

Featured image for “Duval Schools responds to criticism from state education commissioner”
Interim Superintendent Dana Kriznar talks to reporters before the start of the school year. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
May 23, 2024

Duval Schools responds to criticism from state education commissioner

Interim Superintendent Dana Kriznar said the district has made several changes to keep students safe, and more are on the…

Featured image for “Christopher Bernier chosen as Duval Schools superintendent”
Christopher Bernier, Duval County's new schools superintendent, speaks during a forum May 13, 2024, at EverBank Stadium. The balloons form the school district's logo. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 23, 2024

Christopher Bernier chosen as Duval Schools superintendent

The School Board said Bernier was the best choice to navigate Florida’s complex and sometimes politically charged education system.…

Featured image for “Chairman resigns from school tax oversight committee”
The Duval County Public Schools Sales-Surtax Oversight Committee is supposed to monitor expenditures from the district's half-cent sales tax. | News4Jax
May 23, 2024

Chairman resigns from school tax oversight committee

Chair Donald Green suggested Duval Schools is blocking the committee from operating independently.…

Featured image for “Duval superintendent candidate shocked previous district with resignation”
Christopher Bernier (far right) speaks with attendees of a meet-and-greet at EverBank Stadium in mid-May. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 21, 2024

Duval superintendent candidate shocked previous district with resignation

Questions remain about Christopher Bernier’s sudden departure from Lee County as he vies to be Duval superintendent.…

Featured image for “Wanted: Bus drivers for Duval Schools”
May 8, 2024

Wanted: Bus drivers for Duval Schools

Duval Schools needs about 50 new bus drivers and some mechanics this fall.…

Featured image for “2 Duval superintendent candidates advance as finalists ”
A crowd gathers before the School Board meeting on Tuesday, many to protest the potential closure of some schools. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 7, 2024

2 Duval superintendent candidates advance as finalists 

The Duval County School Board selected two candidates Tuesday as the finalists in its search for a new superintendent.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Remedial education: It’s time for an elected superintendent”
May 5, 2024

OPINION | Remedial education: It’s time for an elected superintendent

It’s time for Jacksonville to consider a strong, elected superintendent model such as most counties in the state have. …

Featured image for “NAACP sets town hall meeting to discuss school closures”
Jacksonville NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin speaks Dec. 11, 2023, about Jacksonville's unified Martin Luther King Jr. breakfasts. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 30, 2024

NAACP sets town hall meeting to discuss school closures

The interim superintendent and School Board president will be at the town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the…

Featured image for “Duval school district rebuffs pressure to end relationship with Jacksonville Public Library”
The Dallas Graham Branch of the Jacksonville Public Library is often filled with children from nearby Durkeeville, Grand Park and Moncrief Springs in the afternoon following the end of the school day. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 30, 2024

Duval school district rebuffs pressure to end relationship with Jacksonville Public Library

Amid the national “book ban” conversation, Duval school officials defended a longstanding connection with the Jacksonville Public Library.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools could cut 700 teachers and staff”
The Duval Schools administration building. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
April 30, 2024

Duval Schools could cut 700 teachers and staff

The Duval Teachers Union will try to find positions for employees whose jobs are eliminated.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools apologizes for errors over arrested teacher”
April 26, 2024

Duval Schools apologizes for errors over arrested teacher

The district acknowledged that a teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts should have been removed his classroom immediately.…

Featured image for “Former Douglas Anderson teacher pleads guilty”
Former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher Jeffrey Clayton pleaded guilty to four counts on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 24, 2024

Former Douglas Anderson teacher pleads guilty

Jeffrey Clayton admitted to touching a teenage student and uttering romantic feelings about her.…

Featured image for “Nonprofit may hold key to Duval literacy gaps”
READ USA Chief Executive Rob Kelly says tutoring by the literacy nonprofit has improved reading comprehension and literacy among students at seven Duval County public schools. Interim Superintendent Dana Kriznar, left, and School Board members Warren Jones and April Carney joined him at a news conference Monday, April 22, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 23, 2024

Nonprofit may hold key to Duval literacy gaps

Students have improved their reading accuracy and comprehension after tutoring from READ USA, a literacy group based in Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Six semifinalists picked for Duval Schools superintendent”
The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
April 23, 2024

Six semifinalists picked for Duval Schools superintendent

Five men and one woman are semifinalists for superintendent of Duval County Public Schools.…