Apologizing for 'predators,' Duval superintendent offers plan to tackle teacher misconduct

Saying she was “deeply sorry that we did not better protect our students,” Duval County schools Superintendent Dana Kriznar outlined proposals Thursday to increase safeguards against sexual misconduct by teachers she labeled "predators."

The 20-point plan is the school district’s most detailed response yet to concerns that overflowed following the March 2023 lewdness arrest of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher Jeffrey Clayton. He was sentenced this month to 10 years in prison.

“What Clayton and others did should not happen in any school. Schools should be places of trust and of trustworthy adults,” Kriznar wrote in a message to Douglas Anderson families, saying new protections are being suggested “with the benefit of hindsight through ongoing investigations.”

The proposals would require votes by the School Board to change several existing policies. The package of reforms circulated Thursday set deadlines in October and November for the district to advance full texts for policy changes.

Kriznar and her staff released the proposals a few days before new Superintendent Christopher Bernier’s scheduled July 1 starting date.

In an email from the school district, Bernier said “the plan represents essential steps to address past incidents and prevent future incidents. Proper implementation will be critical to ensure student safety as we move forward.”

Among the steps Kriznar advances were policies to:

Mandate removing school employees from contact with children after any arrest or allegation of child abuse, “bodily harm” to anyone regardless of age, use or distribution of illegal drugs or any sexual misconduct, including indecent exposure;

Require the superintendent’s approval on any disciplinary decisions resulting from those allegations;

Ensure that “employees should not be alone with a student without justification and should plan to avoid such situations.” Being alone with students or texting or interacting with them over social media could lead to discipline or firing, said the policy suggestion, while acknowledging that being alone “may be necessary in the performance of certain job duties.”

Require employees to alert the Florida Department of Children and Families and the school district’s Office of Professional Standards about any evidence or student claims about employee misconduct. Employees who knew about evidence or claims like that and didn’t report them could face consequences as severe as firing.

Clayton's arrest fanned concern by Douglas Anderson graduates and their families who said school officials had been told for years about claims, some just rumors, involving misconduct by him or other faculty.

A law firm was hired to perofrm an outside review of the school district's handling of prior reports, but in April School Board Chair Darryl Willie told the audience at a board meeting that board members had been advised by attorneys not to discuss the review's finding due to ongoing litigation.

Last year, one former Douglas Anderson student sued the board in federal court over the handling of past complaints about Clayton, although a notice in that case this month said the dispute had been resolved.

Kriznar inherited Douglas Anderson worries when she succeeded former Superintendent Diana Greene, who retired a few weeks after Clayton's arrest.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Duval schools superintendent offers reforms to cut teacher misconduct