JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County School Board members approved the sale of district headquarters, suspended a Jacksonville City Council member who works for the district, and voted to remove several books from school shelves during Tuesday night’s meeting.
The board voted unanimously, 7-0, to approve the sale of Duval County Public Schools’ Southbank headquarters to Ashco Inc. for $15.1 million.
The deal comes after a proposed $17 million sale to Chase Properties fell through in February.
Despite the unanimous vote, board members were divided during discussion leading up to the decision.
“I think we’ve got a great deal. We need to strike when the iron is hot,” board member April Carney said before the vote.
“I will sit on it. I am not comfortable with it right now,” board member Reginald Blount said during the discussion.
The sale will not close for another three years, giving the district time to find a new location for its headquarters.
The school board also approved a suspension for Jacksonville City Council member and DCPS employee Tyrona Clark-Murray.
Action News Jax previously reported in May that Clark-Murray admitted to kicking a student with disabilities. The board voted to suspend her for 10 days without pay.
Additionally, school board members voted to remove four books from the district. Among them was George Orwell’s 1984 Graphic Novel. The board voted to remove the book entirely rather than keep it available for students in grades 10 through 12 as initially proposed.
The votes capped a meeting that included several high-profile decisions affecting district operations, employees, and classroom materials.
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