Allegations of ‘arbitrary’ school discipline | Morning Newsletter
And Kimmel’s cafe closes
The Morning Newsletter
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It’s a very rainy Thursday. We’re warming up with a high near 54.
A South Jersey high school student was suspended for eight days after getting into a fight. That turned out to be indefinite. Our lead story explores the costly legal battle that transpired and a case that is now under federal investigation.
— Paola Pérez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Last March, Sania Anderson was suspended from Kingsway High after she joined a cafeteria fight.
Anderson, now 16, said she was trying to break up a fight among a group of girls when she was struck twice in the head by one of those students. The Gloucester County school district says Anderson punched a student several times, and that other students and staff members were injured while attempting to break up the fight.
The suspension was supposed to last eight days, but the district instead placed her on long-term suspension, citing “the egregious nature” of her conduct.
Nearly 12 months have passed and Anderson is still barred from school.
A legal dispute emerged between Anderson’s mother, Naimah Howard, and the Gloucester County school system. Not only does Howard contend that the district is retaliating against her daughter because Howard challenged the punishment, she also says racial bias played a role in the severity of her daughter’s punishment.
In her own words: “This was an isolated incident. Nothing in her academic record showed that she needs this type of intervention,” said Howard, 40. “This is wrong on all levels.”
This case is now the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, making it one of nearly a dozen pending cases in New Jersey alleging discriminatory discipline.
Keep reading for more on the increased scrutiny on how schools discipline Black and Latino students as this local legal battle continues.
Garces Trading Co., the cafe and mini-market in the lobby of the Kimmel Center, has called it quits.
And the future seems murky for Volvér, the posh Jose Garces restaurant on the Kimmel’s Spruce Street side.
In a joint statement to The Inquirer, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center Inc. (POKC) and restaurant operator Ideation Hospitality described Garces Trading’s closing as a mutual decision.
The cafe had become “a financial burden,” an executive for the restaurant said.
Read on for details of the closure one year into operation.
What you should know today
Questions remain over how a 17-year-old accused of murder escaped from custody Wednesday afternoon during a medical visit to CHOP and what triggered him to run.
Philly is getting a $25 million grant to fund water infrastructure projects and expand capacity at its Northeast wastewater treatment plants in Port Richmond, Germantown, and East Falls.
A federal jury awarded $1 million in damages to a nonprofit executive who said she was assaulted and falsely arrested by a Philadelphia police officer during the city’s 2019 Pride Parade. The city has vowed to appeal the ruling.
Travelers visiting Philly soon will have more options on where to stay as the city opens more hotels this year. Check out what they look like.
A local Wendy’s franchise owner has been fined $300,000 for violating state child labor laws at 21 locations in Bucks, Montgomery and Chester Counties.
The Philadelphia Police Department has appointed an acting director of diversity, equity and inclusion, just weeks after the department’s first DEI officer was abruptly fired.
The Sponge Factory Lofts in South Kensington may undergo a major expansion with the addition of new micro apartments and artist studios.
Nearly victims of the Philly winter, two tortoises abandoned in an alley in North Philly were found and rescued.
🧠 Trivia time
Which Philly star will be the next recipient of Temple University’s prestigious 2024 Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award?
A) Kevin Hart
B) Quinta Brunson
C) Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
D) Tina Fey
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we're...
🦪 Reviewing: Philly’s 2024 James Beard Nominees with Craig LaBan.
⛪ Hearing: Some Fishtown residents aren’t happy this church is ringing its bells again.
👀 Watching: What’s next for the Birds now that we know Nick Sirianni is returning as head coach.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: This Phillies slugger is moving on to the Brewers
KINS SHY ROSH
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Dan Tureck who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Colman Domingo.
Photo of the day
🐦 Are you looking out for the rare painted bunting? It rarely stops by Philly, so it’s no surprise the colorful visitor is catching everyone’s attention this week.
👋🏽 That’s all the news I’ve got for you this morning. Thanks for reading.
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