JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, Public School Defenders and other advocacy groups protested to advocate for an “inclusive future” for students before new Duval County Public School board members were sworn in.
The organization aimed to condemn what it calls the “racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, and anti-science social media posts by newly elected board member Tony Ricardo” and hold board members accountable for the responsibilities the NCOJ says should be followed:
- Honoring the expertise and experience of DCPS educators and administrators.
- Leading with humility and respect for the diverse voices within our community.
- Engaging in good-faith governance that prioritizes transparency and accountability.
- Collaborating to ensure all children in Duval County are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged as learners.
Parents and community members who attended the special meeting were not happy with the newly elected members because of their support from the Moms for Liberty (MFL) conservative parent advocacy group.
Ricardo, Bolcuc and Blount received endorsements from the conservative parent group.
Pearson returned to the board for a second term and was not endorsed by MFL.
Members of the advocacy groups voiced concerns about multiple recent and dated Facebook posts that Ricardo shared.
Katie Hathaway is a DCPS parent and member of the PSD. She shared concerns about how Ricardo’s views could impact implemented policies.
Melissa Bernhardt, who appeared to be holding a sign that read, “We voted, We Won, Done,” hoped the school board would focus on improving grades.
“When our children’s grades go up, their mental wellness will go up, and their parents can deal with the issues that they have at home if they don’t know who they are or they find themselves confused. Every child finds themselves confused at one point in time in their life, and it is up to the parents to guide them through that confusion, and up to the school board to guide them in an educational excellence way.”
Holly Dean, MFL chapter president, spoke about her concerns over the school board not addressing issues. She
“With the election of Tony, Melody and Reggie adding to Charlotte and April, we finally have a school board that will pay attention and be focused on children and about parental rights and education, about school safety and fiscal responsibility,” Dean said.
Parents who still had concerns about the current school board vowed to keep showing up and advocating for students.
“We have been showing up in the face of adversity for many years, and we will continue to do so for every child in this district, not just my own. And I want to make sure we’re clear to the incoming and sitting board members that we are not going to tolerate extremist policies being implemented by this board,” Hathaway said.