JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Duval County School Board approved changes to the school district's ethics policies Tuesday evening.
The proposed ethics policy changes come after multiple teachers were removed from Duval County classrooms, including at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts where the principal said this happened last week.
The policies have to do with identifying, reporting and removing teachers from classrooms when they’re accused of misconduct. While parents of children at DA told First Coast News they’re glad the district is taking up the topic, they’re skeptical about whether it will stop any future misconduct.
“Unfortunately there’s only so much that they can do," said Jessica Valerio, whose daughter went to DA. "It comes down to each individual and their morals and their ethics.”
Valerio’s daughter was the vocal student of a man who is now serving 10 years in prison for kissing a student at DA. Last week parents at that school were alerted of another teacher under investigation who the principal said has been reassigned to duties with no student interaction.
Valerio is thinking of the students who get a new teacher after theirs is reassigned.
“Then you don’t trust anybody anymore and these children don’t either and then all of the sudden someone else is stuck in their classroom and they’re supposed to be okay,” Valerio said. "They're supposed to trust them, they're supposed to just be okay."
Reassigning employees to duties with no student contact while an investigation takes place is listed in Duval County Public Schools’ revised ethics policies. It also states allegations must be reported immediately and the employee must be removed from student contact within 24 hours of being reported if they’re accused of child abuse or sexual misconduct.
“I think they now understand that they’re gonna be held more accountable,” said Aunterial Wynn whose daughter is a student at DA.
Earlier this year, Duval County Public Schools apologized to parents after a Douglas Anderson teacher stayed in the classroom 45 days after the district learned of his arrest.
“I think they need to now know to address it immediately and don’t hesitate,” Wynn said.