Douglas Anderson Alumni Seek Accountability Following $1.45M Settlement for Abuse Claims.
Following Jeffrey Clayton’s arrest, Douglas Anderson alumni have come forward with charges of abuse and harassment dating back years, and the school board is slated to vote Tuesday on a planned $1.45 million settlement with three former students.
Former Douglas Anderson student Shyla Jenkins claims Clayton was emotionally abusive when she was a student in the early 2000s. Since his incarceration, she has advocated for accountability and change at DCPS.
They questioned her about her opinions on the district’s plan, announced on Thursday, to prevent what happened at Douglas Anderson from happening anywhere else in the district. “I mean, I believe it took 15 months for an eight-page document. Jenkins said, “And that seems a little subpar.”
The strategy outlines six main initiatives: policy revisions, investigations, staff training, and raising student and parent awareness of inappropriate adult behavior.
Jenkins is concerned about the plan’s lack of direction in communicating information to stakeholders when a teacher is suspected of misbehavior.
“It didn’t address the topic that I’ve been asking the board for a year: what about openness when this happens? How are parents alerted before the media gets hold of it?” Jenkins stated.
She is also concerned about the proposal’s unclear language.
“This document’s first section discusses how they plan to be very deliberate about how kids and teachers interact, which is fantastic. I think part of the problem with Clayton was that he had access to social media and texting, which needed to be regulated. However, a rule states that you cannot be one-on-one or alone with a student. That’s subjective. So, what does that mean?
It’s not clear whether the instances offered were for mental health or a sick child, but you have speech pathologists who need to work one-on-one with children, and you have testing opportunities, which might be a one-on-one chance with a teacher and a student in the classroom. How will they deal with that? How are instructors expected to feel empowered by this?” She said.
The president of Duval Teachers United stated that she needed to study the plan with the district and the union’s counsel to understand more about what it would imply for teachers before commenting.
An attorney representing two former students involved in the proposed settlement with the district stated that her clients are pleased with the proposed solution.
Ultimately, the board will determine which policies will be implemented.
“It’s very important for us to help provide an avenue to help with that education and take some of the financial burden off those families,” Winn-Dixie District Director Jason Colwell said.
The day was far from done after the initial gift at the Winn-Dixie in Normandy. The Smith house was the next destination. Lionel Smith spent four years as an aviation electrician in the United States Navy. Then Folds of Honor and Winn-Dixie appeared at his door. Lionel’s boys, Kamari and Kalani, were awarded $5,000 scholarships.
“Well, I can’t say I was expecting it,” Kamari replied. A surprise that will help the Smith brothers begin their future.
“Being able to begin your life without the burden of debt, to start from the beginning, to build up and do what you need to do. “Both of them have that opportunity,” Kamari and Kalani’s mother, Janeen Smith, explained.
Kamari is entering his senior year at Trinity Baptist College. Kalani intends to attend Florida State University and study business someday.