JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board is meeting Tuesday for the first time since selecting a new superintendent.
Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, News4JAX news partner Jacksonville Today reported new details about Bernier’s abrupt resignation from Lee County Schools in the Fort Myers area.
According to public records reviewed by Jacksonville Today, Bernier was the subject of a whistleblower complaint that accused him of racial profiling against an employee and of using his positions of power to threaten, intimidate and demean the employee.
The documents lay out this timeline:
- Whistleblower complaint filed April 4 with Lee County Schools
- Bernier applied for the job in Duval County on April 6
- Lee County Schol Board approved Bernier’s separation agreement April 8
- Bernier texted a Lee County School Board member on April 8 referring to “information that went public yesterday”
The texts are heavily redacted, but when asked if he was OK, Bernier responded, “Yes, this allows me to move on and protect what’s left.”
Bernier would later say he quit the job in Lee County because it had switched to an elected position and he did not want to run for election.
Our news partners reached out to Bernier for a statement but have not gotten a response. We also hope to get answers.