JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Jacksonville City Councilmember Tyrona Clark-Murray is facing calls for her removal after allegations surfaced that she kicked a student while working at a Duval County Public Schools middle school.<\/p>\n
Sources tell Action News Jax Clark-Murray self-reported the incident and was acting in self-defense. However, a fellow council member says that is no excuse.<\/p>\n
Clark-Murray, who works as an ESE site coach at DuPont Middle School, remains sidelined from the classroom as an internal investigation continues.<\/p>\n
Sources confirm she was involved in an incident Tuesday with a 13-year-old student enrolled in a program for students with autism and emotional disabilities.<\/p>\n
According to sources, Clark-Murray told DCPS police the student kicked her first, and she kicked back to stop him.<\/p>\n
On social media, Duval County School Board Vice Chair April Carney called Clark-Murray\u2019s actions \u201cunacceptable,\u201d saying there should be \u201czero tolerance for striking a student.\u201d Carney also called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to look into the matter.<\/p>\n
Fellow Jacksonville City Councilmember Rory Diamond also weighed in online and in person.<\/p>\n
\u201cViolence against a student is never acceptable,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cHard to imagine removal from office isn\u2019t appropriate, but going to read the police report.\u201d<\/p>\n
The student reportedly suffered bruises and scratches.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got a special needs kid who\u2019s 13 years old who came away with blood and bruises,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cThere\u2019s no explanation that makes that OK.\u201d<\/p>\n
The boy\u2019s parents declined to press charges.<\/p>\n
Action News Jax reached out to Clark-Murray for her response to the growing calls for her removal.<\/p>\n
She responded in a text message stating: \u201cHi, I have no comment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to do due process for whether or not she keeps her job and all that,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cAnd the other side is, is there something criminal?\u201d<\/p>\n
Diamond added that if there was criminal behavior, \u201cshe ought to be removed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The district\u2019s HR investigation remains ongoing, and the official police report has not yet been released.<\/p>\n
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