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 “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 “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 “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 “Early voting starts soon on the First Coast”
Early voting in Duval County was delayed by Tropical Storm Debby. l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today.
August 2, 2024

Early voting starts soon on the First Coast

Early voting for the primary election now starts Wednesday in Duval County due to Tropical Storm Debby, with other counties…

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 “AUG. 20 VOTER GUIDE | Compare Duval County candidates”
July 31, 2024

AUG. 20 VOTER GUIDE | Compare Duval County candidates

Compare the Duval primary candidates for Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, state Legislature and Congress with our Candidate Comparison Tool.…

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. Reggie Blount did not attend. | 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 teachers can get help buying school supplies”
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund is offering financial assistance to 15 Duval County schoolteachers so they can buy school supplies for their classrooms. l Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash.
July 29, 2024

Duval teachers can get help buying school supplies

The Jacksonville Public Education Fund is offering financial assistance to 15 Duval County schoolteachers.…

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 “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. | 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. | 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.…