JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County school board member April Carney is leading the discussion on whether a non-school employee could sponsor after school clubs and organizations.

“I pulled this due to some horrible circumstances that have happened in the past couple of weeks since the assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Carney explained.

During a policy review meeting Wednesday, Carney said parents reached out to her with complaints from students who are trying to start Turning Point USA chapters at Duval County schools, though she did not say which schools or how many students complained. Carney said these students asked teachers to sponsor the organization, but were told no.

“I think it’s a violation of the first amendment to have a teacher say ‘no, I’m not willing to sponsor,'” Carney said during the meeting.

Under current policy, students must have a school employee sponsor a student-run club or organization. Chief of Staff for the superintendent, Michael Ramirez, added school Principals usually send out a list asking for volunteers.

In the event that no one volunteers, Carney said she wants to look into potentially changing the policy language to allow a non-school employee who passes a level two background check to be a sponsor.

“A student should be able to go to someone else, another district employee that has cleared a level two background check or another community member that is willing to step up,” Carney said.

Not everyone in the meeting seemed supportive of the potential change. Board member Darryl Willie wanted to ensure teachers do not feel forced to sponsor a club.

“If folks aren’t raising their hand to do it, I never want to…because that’s pressure,” Willie said.

Parents are raising similar concerns. Clara Sowers has two children in Duval County schools right now. 

“I think it’s dangerous,” Sowers said.

She is worried about the safety of students on campus if non-school employees are allowed to facilitate after school clubs.

 “Parents are trusting that these are teachers are hosting these things, that they have the training to work with students, that they have the training to deal with difficult topics and difficult situations,” Sowers said.

Laura Strata also has children in Duval County schools and said she worries about who these potential volunteer sponsors could be.

“I think there’s certain things that the parents should be involved in teaching, and that’s one of the things I feel like as a parent’s position, not a stranger essentially,” Strata said. 

The day after the policy review meeting, Carney was seen standing with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in a video posted on X. Uthmeier said anyone who prevents Turning Point chapters at schools could face legal consequences.

“This is discriminatory, it’s wrong, and we will not stand for it,” Uthmeier said in the video.

Turning Point USA is a conservative organization and was founded by the late Charlie Kirk. St. Johns County schools currently has the most chapters out of any district on the first coast with groups at four different high schools. DCPS does not have any right now.

“I don’t want to be in any position where we’re stifling any students’ voice,” Carney said.

A spokesperson for the district told First Coast News they have not received any formal requests to start a Turning Point chapter yet nor have they received any complaints from students or parents. They added the district supports student-initiated clubs ‘in accordance with the federal Equal Access Act (20 U.S.C. § 4071) and Florida Statutes (§ 1000.05, § 1006.14).’

The school board is waiting for feedback from the superintendent before moving forward.