DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — Ever since five teachers within Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) were removed, a comprehensive safeguarding plan has been in the works for students, according to the school district.
Although DCPS has not announced what its new plan will include, First Coast News spoke with those directly impacted about what they want to see in it.
Claire Proudfoot is a former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher and parent of a former student. For years, she said she worked closely with students and staff within the district, and when asked about what she thinks should be in the comprehensive plan, she suggests DCPS form a trusted group of staff members to receive reports from students anonymously.
“There absolutely should be an anonymous or safe place for them to report any concerns," said Proudfoot. "They could have a student honor board or something was working with students, parents teachers and administrators, like a board, that would anonymously get these things and discuss it and determine what should be done next. But, I think it can’t be held in the hands of one person."
Chris Guerrieri is a teacher at Palm Avenue School in Jacksonville. He thinks making a plan right now is not necessarily needed.
"It’s just another example of reacting to a problem," said Guerrieri. "We’re never proactive, we never get out in front of things."
However, Guerrieri does believe that if a districtwide safety plan is being made, then teachers in schools should have input.
"If they want to have a plan that teachers follow through with, they gotta have teacher buy in this, [it] should not be some district administrators and superintendent sitting around a table spit-balling ideas," Guerrieri told First Coast News. "This is something that they should invite teachers in to give their ideas, they should invite teachers in to give their thoughts on what the issues are and not just rush to react."
The comprehensive plan will be rolled out before Interim Superintendent Dana Kriznar leaves her position in the summer, according to DCPS.