Jacksonville City Council member Tyrona Clark-Murray, a Duval County Public Schools employee, has been temporarily removed from classroom duty after an incident involving a student, DCPS said May 7.
Action News Jax reported that Clark-Murray kicked a 13-year-old male student in a program that, according to the district’s website, serves students with “Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual and Emotional Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, and Speech/ Language Impairments.”
“We can confirm (Clark-Murray) has been temporarily reassigned to a role with no student contact pending the outcome of a human resources investigation,” DCPS wrote in a statement. “As this matter remains under active investigation, no additional information can be provided at this time.”
Clark-Murray did not respond to requests for comment on May 7 from the Daily Record via email and could not be reached at her listed campaign number.
Clark-Murray represents Council District 9, which includes West Jacksonville from U.S. 17, to just past Interstate 295 at the district’s eastern border. Elected in a 2022 special election, Clark-Murray was reelected in 2023.
In a text, Council President Kevin Carrico called the report “disturbing.”
“As someone who works with children of all ages day in and day out it’s obviously troubling to read,” Carrico said of the report. “I will reserve judgment and action as council president when I have more facts and a report to review.”
Action News Jax reported that Clark-Murray kicked the student after he kicked her, and that she self-reported the incident. Action News Jax reported that the student suffered bruises and scratches on his shin, but that his parents declined to press charges.
Clark-Murray did not refute the allegations in Action News Jax’s reporting but declined to give a comment, the outlet said.