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WEATHER ALERT

ANDREW JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL

Changing name of Robert E. Lee High takes spotlight at community meeting

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Northside Coalition and other members of the Jacksonville community gathered Monday afternoon ahead of a meeting, rallying for a name change at Robert E. Lee High School. pic.twitter.com/D7DATGJe60 — Brie Isom (@BrieIsomWJXT) March 15, 2021Some of the names suggested during the Monday meeting included Avondale High School or Riverside High School. There’s a group of alumni from Lee High School are pushing to keep the school’s name, saying that Lee High has too much history to be renamed. It’s about Southern pride,” Lee High School alumnus Joey Steves said previously. Jackson High, Ribault High, and Ribault Middle schools were added to the list in early August.

DCPS makes changes after students call for ‘You Matter Month’ to be renamed

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After Sandalwood High School students took to the hallways on Wednesday in protest of the district’s “You Matter Month” campaign, more demonstrations were held Friday on campuses across the district. Students rallied again at Sandalwood, as well as at First Coast High School, Fletcher High School, Andrew Jackson High School and others. The main target of all the demonstrations is the district’s “You Matter Month” campaign which they say takes away from Black History Month and, at the same time, high-jacks the “Black Lives Matter” phrasing. “We want more Black history to be in the curriculum, we want it to be more important,” Sandalwood student Milka Fanord said. In fact, DCPS is listed as one of only nine “exemplary districts” by Florida for how it provides Black history education.

Debate over controversial DCPS school names continues

The School Advisory Committee will create a shortlist of possible names on which the school community will vote. Our School Renaming Fund is open for anyone who wants to help offset the costs of renaming schools, following community input and the School Board’s final decision. A group of alumni from Lee High School are pushing to keep the school’s name, saying that Lee High has too much history to be renamed. That estimate was based on the costs associated with the 2014 renaming of Nathan B. Forrest High School to Westside High School, which was roughly $200,000. Although, district spokesperson Tracy Pierce told News4Jax that renaming a high school is much more expensive than a middle or elementary school.

Andrew Jackson HS JROTC drill team to be featured in inauguration parade

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration marks a major milestone for Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville’s Brentwood neighborhood. The school’s Air Force Junior ROTC drill team was selected to take part in the inauguration’s “Parade Across America”. Major Johnson recalls the moment he learned they were selected. “My mom put me into a military school when I was in middle school, and we had leadership classes,” Simmons said. “You want to see your students actually, finally realize the potential you knew they always had within themselves,” Major Johnson said.

Chartwells holding 5 hiring events in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Chartwells, a foodservice company for the students at Duval County Public Schools, is holding five separate hiring events in October. The job fair will be hiring workers for Duval County Public Schools' cafeterias for food service roles. According to an event notice, employees will "only work day shifts, no nights, no weekends, paid sick leave, paid holidays, and many other benefits available.”Full- and part-time positions are available. The company will be interviewing and offering jobs on the spot at these job fairs. If you can’t make it to the job fair events, you can also apply here.

3 more Duval County school names under review

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board voted to add three more schools to the list of those being considered for a name change. Board member Ashley Smith-Juarez introduced a bill that would add Andrew Jackson High School, Jean Ribault High School and Jean Ribault Middle School to the list, bringing the total to nine. The Duval County School Board previously voted unanimously to begin the renaming process for six public schools whose names honor Confederate leaders: Joseph Finegan Elementary, Stonewall Jackson Elementary, Jefferson Davis Middle, Kirby-Smith Middle, J.E.B. According to the Duval County School Board, The Jacksonville Public Education Fund created the fund to allow community members to support public school renamings through tax-deductible donations. The fund would help offset the costs of renaming the six schools if the Duval County School Board approves new names.

Duval County Public Schools announces planned dates for July graduation ceremonies

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. July graduations dates were released by Duval County Public Schools on Friday. According to DCPS, information regarding time, venue guest information and safety protocols was still being finalized as of Friday. That information was expected to be shared with families in the coming weeks. Here is a list of the upcoming graduation dates, provided by the district:Wednesday, July 15Alden Road Exceptional Student CenterMount Herman Exceptional Student CenterThursday, July 16Palm Avenue Exceptional Student CenterFriday, July 17Frank H. PetersonAndrew Jackson High SchoolMonday, July 20Baldwin Middle Senior High SchoolWilliam M. Raines High SchoolStanton College PreparatoryTuesday, July 21Sandalwood High SchoolJean Ribault Senior High SchoolAtlantic Coast High SchoolWednesday, July 22Terry Parker High SchoolSamuel W. Wolfson High SchoolEdward White High SchoolDuval Virtual Instruction AcademyThursday, July 23Westside High SchoolAsa Philip Randolph Academies of TechnologyMandarin High SchoolRobert E. Lee High SchoolThe Bridge to Success AcademyFriday, July 24Douglas Anderson School of the ArtsDarnell Cookman School of the Medical ArtsFirst Coast High SchoolMonday, July 27