JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Councilwoman Tyrona Clark-Murray refused to answer questions from News4JAX Tuesday night, after Duval County Schools reassigned her to a non-student role amid an ongoing HR investigation.
Clark-Murray, who is employed as an ESE site coach at DuPont Middle School, appeared at Tuesday’s council meeting.
She was removed from her classroom last Thursday while Duval County Public School officials investigated. No updates in the investigation have been released.
We attempted to speak with Clark-Murray multiple times throughout the evening — first during a pre-council meeting, then between sessions, and again after the council meeting ended.
“I told you earlier no, that I can’t comment on the investigation, you know that, your producers know that, your bosses know that,” Clark-Murray said when pressed for comment at the end of the night.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Clark-Murray appeared engaged during the meeting and was actively involved in council business. Several members of the public also spoke in support of her during the public comment period.
Councilman Matt Carlucci, who had previously voiced his support, reaffirmed his confidence in Clark-Murray Tuesday night.
“We don’t know what happened, but I have not witnessed anything from her except compassion with her constituents and reason and trying to do what’s right,” Carlucci said. “I think she is so honest and such a good, decent person that I’m all for her being up here and continuing her job. Look, we all mess up. We all step in our own set of landmines and we don’t know what happens. So I like her and I’m sure she’ll come out of this just fine.”
Council President Kevin Carrico told News4JAX last week that only a criminal charge would trigger a removal from office — a decision that would rest solely with Gov. Ron DeSantis. As of Tuesday, Clark-Murray has not been criminally charged.
News4JAX has active public records requests filed with Duval County Schools seeking the incident report and Clark-Murray’s personnel records. Those requests are pending.