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19 public commenters press Duval County School Board on social-media posts, masking and curriculum
Summary
During public comment at the Nov. 19, 2024 Duval County School Board organizational meeting, 19 speakers alternately accused and defended board members over social-media posts, recounted safety and health complaints, urged focus on reading and math, and debated parental-rights and curriculum concerns.
Jacksonville — Nineteen members of the public addressed the Duval County School Board during its Nov. 19, 2024 organizational meeting, delivering a mix of criticism and support about board conduct, prior pandemic-era policies and curriculum.
Mike Ludwig of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville opened the public-comment sequence by accusing a newly seated board member of posting racist and sexist material online that disparaged Vice President Kamala Harris. Ludwig said the posts are “racist and sexist” and that the coalition will “be watching” board conduct. Several other speakers echoed concerns about social-media content and asked for apologies or retractions from members whose posts they described as harmful.
Speakers on both sides of recent school-board elections appeared. Holly Dean, identified in the transcript as outgoing chapter chair of Moms for Liberty Duvall, described a set of personal incidents — including an account that her son was temporarily unlocated and an allegation he received a flu shot without parental permission — and praised the new board majority for restoring parental rights. Tia Bess, a national director for Moms for Liberty who said she is Black and gay, also supported the new board and urged a shared, nonpartisan focus on reading and student outcomes.
Others asked the board to prioritize academics, literacy and safety. Rob Kelly, CEO of Read USA, congratulated the new board and emphasized literacy as “our number one issue.” Multiple commenters urged fiscal accountability and following audit-committee recommendations; one suggested an independent school-policing workflow to address security concerns.
Several speakers framed their remarks as a response to prior district decisions about masking and curriculum. Melina Gay and others referenced past litigation arising from pandemic-era mask policies and said those disputes contributed to recent elections. Other commenters urged that library and curriculum materials be reviewed for appropriateness while defenders of students’ dignity objected to rhetoric that targets LGBTQ students.
The board did not respond during the public-comment period; the clerk had read rules explaining each speaker would get three minutes because 19 speakers had signed up. There is no record in the transcript of a formal board response to the allegations about social-media posts or to the personal incidents described by commenters.
The public-comment period ended and the board resumed administrative agenda business, later approving meeting dates, travel and other organizational items.
