JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida senator is calling for accountability from Duval County Public Schools after another Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher was removed from classrooms last week.
In a letter addressed to DCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Dana Kriznar on Monday, Florida Senator Clay Yarborough said he was concerned for the immediate safety of students, "particularly those at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts."
Yarborough's message comes after the school district removed Douglas Anderson math teacher Chris Allen-Black from classrooms in April following his arrest from a Walt Disney World hotel in February.
Allen-Black was arrested after several women saw him exposing himself through a window at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel on Feb. 24, an arrest report states.
READ MORE: Report: Douglas Anderson teacher seen exposing himself at Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Despite Allen-Black's arrest in February, he remained in classrooms until April.
"The fact that the district was aware of this and allowed the teacher to remain in direct proximity with students and chose not to notify parents until last week is beyond comprehension," Yarborough said.
Allen-Black marks the fifth faculty member removed from a Duval County classroom in 14 months, according to Yarborough.
"The ongoing pattern of inappropriate sexual issues involving approved faculty at Douglas Anderson rises to the level of students at the school being in imminent danger of harm by adults they and their parents should be able to trust," Yarborough writes.
The senator goes on to question the school district's handling of addressing issues with parents and the community.
"How can any confidence be given to parents and the community when it is unknown whether similar incidents are still happening at the school and/or at other schools in the county?"
Yarborough also addressed the arrest of Douglas Anderson teacher Jeffrey Clayton, who was charged with four counts related to lewd behavior with a student in 2023.
"No response has been provided by the district to the public on the outcome of the investigation that was initiated," he said.
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In the letter, the senator included statements from a student who experienced "predatory behavior" at Douglas Anderson, and who described the school environment as "toxic" and "hostile."
Yarborough argues the district's "lack of action" is leaving students vulnerable in their classrooms.
The senator included the following list of questions for the district:
- When will the investigation report be released?
- Does district policy require notifications by an employee of an arrest? If not, given the risk to students' and other employees' safety and welfare, why not?
- Are parents of all students at a school notified when incidents arise or only those of certain students?
- What will change in the faculty vetting process at both the district and individual school level to ensure issues like these do not continue to happen?
- Will leadership changes take place at the school?
- What safeguards have been put in place to prevent future incidents at all schools?
"As a graduate of Duval County schools, it pains me that we are having to deal with issues like these, but they must be addressed - and quickly. Enough is enough," said Yarborough.
First Coast News reached out to DCPS for comment on this story and is waiting to hear back.