JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The parents of a Douglas Anderson School of the Arts student are speaking out after they say their daughter was pulled out of class and “interrogated” by an unknown agency.
The district is investigating tips of potential misconduct after a series of teachers have been removed from the school.
When the parents spoke to a DCPS detective Thursday afternoon, he told her he didn't know which agency talked to her student. However, later in the evening, the detective informed her that the student was interviewed by the Office of Professional Standards.
This parent asked First Coast News not to reveal her identity, but she said her daughter was questioned about a group chat she and other students have with an instructor. She's frustrated because the school didn’t reach out to her before talking to their daughter, who didn’t know how to handle the situation.
The student’s mother said their daughter wasn’t given the option to call her parents.
“We were completely aware that there was a group chat,” said the mother of the student. “There is a group chat for a very specific reason, and had they reached out to us first, this could have been avoided. We would’ve had absolutely no problem corroborating any of this.”
She said the Office of Professional Standards told her they wanted to assess if there was an immediate threat.
While she said she appreciates the urgency, she still feels that a student shouldn’t have to face that kind of pressure alone.
“The concern on our end was, as a minor child and considering the allegations, considering that everyone knows what’s going on right now, especially as it relates to DA, that the parents really need to be pulled into the conversation, the mother told First Coast News.
The Duval County School Board is investigating the "system failures" that allowed Jeffrey Clayton, a Douglas Anderson teacher charged with sex crimes, to remain in the classroom after numerous reports. Three other teachers in recent weeks at the school were "reassigned," or removed from the being in classrooms.
The school board is having a meeting Friday afternoon to discuss the future of Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene’s as she faces backlash.
Jacksonville attorney A. Wellington Barlow said terminating Dr. Greene would be a huge mistake.
“If this superintendent should resign, if she’s responsible, the whole board should resign,” Wellington Barlow said. “The whole board is responsible because they have a policy in place that was not adhered to.”
A district spokesperson said the Duval County School Police are not conducting these interviews. They recommended the parents reach out to the agency about what happened.
