In a unanimous Tuesday night meeting, the Duval County School Board took several significant actions affecting local education and community resources.

Sale of Southbank headquarters

The board approved the sale of the aging Southbank headquarters building to Jacksonville developer Ashco for a purchase price of $15.1 million. The riverfront property will be transferred under a three‑year timeline that allows the district to find a new location. This marks the board’s third attempt in the past year to divest the facility; a prior deal fell through in February. Board members said moving off the river will let the city collect tax revenue and prevent a potential decline in property value if the sale is delayed further.

Disciplinary action against a council member

Also on the agenda, the board voted to impose a 10‑day unpaid suspension on Jacksonville City Council Member Tyrona Clark‑Murray, who also teaches at du Pont Middle School. Clark‑Murray was removed from her classroom in May after she self‑reported kicking an exceptional‑ed student who had kicked her.

Library book challenges

The board addressed concerns raised about several school library books deemed inappropriate by some parents and community members. Four titles, including the graphic novel adaptation of “1984,” were voted to be removed from the libraries.

Next steps

These developments are ongoing, and Jacksonville Today will continue to follow the story throughout the week, providing updates on the sale process, the suspension outcome, and the impact of the book removals on students and educators.

Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.