JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County Public Schools approved a $1.4 million settlement concerning three former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (DA) students.
The school board did not officially discuss the matter at Tuesday’s DCPS meeting, but the settlement was approved under the consent agenda.
The meeting took place hours after Dr. Christopher Bernier was sworn in as the new DCPS superintendent.
The superintendent steps into his new role amid multiple issues with DA teachers and former music teacher Jeffrey Clayton’s recent conviction.
RELATED: Challenges lie ahead for Duval’s new superintendent as his tenure begins
With a $320,000 annual salary, Bernier’s contract started on July 1 and will run through 2028.
The district released a safety plan to protect students from abuse and inappropriate conduct, but the School Board delayed a vote on the recommendations Tuesday night.
The plan lays out six strategies to revamp policies and procedures, address and prevent misconduct at schools and protect students from predators.
“Well, the safety and security of our kids is paramount. You heard it in the speech. We’ve got to move the academic needle. We need to make sure they’re safe and secure. The work that this district is now going to do around employee professional ethics is very valuable. And the first essential step starts tonight,” Bernier said after he was sworn in.
The recommended strategies include improvements in policy, investigation and external reporting allegations, staff training, student and parent awareness of inappropriate behavior, and broader awareness of reporting inappropriate behavior.
But according to our news partners at Jax Today, the city’s legal advisors say the policies need to be re-written, which is why the vote was delayed.
Despite that delay, the city’s general counsel said some of the changes are already in effect and will be in place when school starts in August. Those include requiring the removal of employees from student contact after arrests or after allegations of misconduct or violence; requiring all staff to report allegations and evidence of misconduct or face penalties; and maintaining a database of disciplinary actions involving employees.
Bernier also addressed professional ethics at the DCPS meeting.
“We have to turn a page but we cannot forget the history of what transpired. We have to move forward in a way that is very clear to our community and our employees that behaving professionally and ethically is non-negotiable, and if you violate that professional level of ethics, there will be consequences.” Bernier said.
Board Chair Darryl Willie also addressed the settlement.
“We’re going to do every single thing we can as a board -- I know Dr. Bernier is committed to this too -- to uplift and keep every single one of our students safe. We understand the situation that was at hand, and we understand where we are, and we need to do better. And we will,” Willie said.
Many people during public comment also spoke about their concerns about the district possibly closing nearly 30 schools.
RELATED | Interactive Map: Duval County School Board’s proposal to close & realign schools
Bernier and Willie said they asked a consultant to come up with a revision to the Master Facility Plan that was released in March.
It’s not clear when the updated plan will be released.
Watch the swearing-in ceremony and Bernier’s speech below: