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 “New Mission: Astronaut MOSH exhibit gives taste of life in space”
Anthony Mortimer with the Museum of Science and History shows off the new traveling exhibit Mission: Astronaut on Thursday Sept. 19. l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today.
September 19, 2024

New Mission: Astronaut MOSH exhibit gives taste of life in space

Starting Saturday, a new exhibit will open to the public at the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville giving…

Featured image for “6 Jacksonville elementaries could close at the end of this school year”
Susie E. Tolbert Elementary is one of six schools to potentially close | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 19, 2024

6 Jacksonville elementaries could close at the end of this school year

6 Jacksonville elementary schools could close at the end of this school year.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville joins international effort to stop HIV spread”
Wednesday, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and President of the Fast-Track Cities Institute José M. Zuniga sign a document allowing the city to join the partnership. l City of Jacksonville
September 18, 2024

Jacksonville joins international effort to stop HIV spread

Jacksonville is joining hundreds of other cities and international organizations to try to stop the spread of HIV by 2030.…

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 “Black historical society creates Freedom School to close knowledge gaps in Jacksonville”
Christina McNair will serve as one of the educators for the James Weldon Johnson ASALH chapter's Freedom School. McNair is a retired science teacher and educator who has lived in Jacksonville for nearly 50 years. | Will Brown, Jacaksonville Today
September 6, 2024

Black historical society creates Freedom School to close knowledge gaps in Jacksonville

Freedom School is designed to help school-aged children, and their families, learn about Black history.…

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 “4 school districts target substance abuse and violence”
August 8, 2024

4 school districts target substance abuse and violence

Putnam and St. Johns County schools are teaming with other school districts to increase awareness and support for students.…

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. 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 “OPINION | ‘Go outside and play’ -Every Boomer’s mother”
The "after" photo from a green schoolyard makeover at a Colorado elementary school. | Children & Nature Network, "Green Schoolyards" report
July 25, 2024

OPINION | ‘Go outside and play’ -Every Boomer’s mother

Green schoolyards is a movement to turn public school playgrounds into “outdoor classrooms,” with plant and vegetable gardens, trails, trees,…

Featured image for “Challenge to Florida pronoun law gets go-ahead”
July 12, 2024

Challenge to Florida pronoun law gets go-ahead

The law requires teachers to use pronouns that align with their sex assigned at birth.…

Featured image for “OPINION | School choice is a lifesaver for parents of color ”
July 1, 2024

OPINION | School choice is a lifesaver for parents of color 

I am living proof that giving Black families more options, and more opportunity, is the key.…

Featured image for “St. Johns moms speak about their lawsuit over schoolbooks”
School library books, like these at R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy in Jacksonville, remain a controversial issue in Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 11, 2024

St. Johns moms speak about their lawsuit over schoolbooks

The two parents are suing for equal rights when the public challenges books in Florida’s schools.…

Featured image for “Teacher unions say pay raise isn’t enough”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference May 9, 2023, to sign several education bills and increases in teacher pay. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
June 11, 2024

Teacher unions say pay raise isn’t enough

Florida ranks near the bottom nationwide in average teacher salaries, according to the Florida Education Association.…

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 “Options expand for people with intellectual differences”
A support professional sits with three participants in sensory and cognitive activities at Pine Castle. l Aaron Mervin, Pine Castle
May 15, 2024

Options expand for people with intellectual differences

Pine Castle, a Jacksonville organization that serves people with special needs, recently opened up 200 new slots for people to…

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.…