The Duval County School Board will launch the process to consider renaming three additional schools, the namesakes of which are tied to the marginalization of Native Americans.
WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union reports at Tuesday's School Board meeting, Ashley Smith-Juarez introduced a bill to consider renaming Andrew Jackson High School, Jean Ribault High School and Jean Ribault Middle School.
"We began with six schools named for Confederate officers. We should continue with schools that are named for people responsible for systematically marginalizing and killing Indigenous people," Smith-Juarez said. "It is the place and time in the history of our city and our school district that we are engaging in the process of enacting the renaming policy for alignment to the mission, vision and core values of Duval County Public Schools."
When the Duval County School Board approved launching the process to consider renaming six district schools with Confederate ties in June, Smith-Juarez voiced her support, but said the list wasn't complete — until now.
Still, the bill didn't come without hesitation.
The board's final vote was 6-1 with board member Darryl Willie in opposition.
Read the rest of this story at Jacksonville.com.
