Camden students' eating on floor probed

The New Jersey Department of Education is investigating allegations that a Camden vice principal made students eat on the floor, as well as the school board's handling of the issue, officials said yesterday.

"We are acting on a complaint, and I can say we are investigating," department spokesman Jon Zlock said.

The investigation, which was begun this week, is being conducted by the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance, Zlock said. Depending what is found out, the matter could be referred to another agency for further investigation.

The Camden School Board voted two weeks ago to transfer Sumner Elementary School vice principal Theresa Brown to East Camden Middle School as a vice principal with a salary of more than $91,000 a year - the salary she had at Sumner.

The action upset some parents and community members who allege that Brown, while at Sumner, punished a group of Hispanic fifth graders by making them eat lunch on a gymnasium floor for two weeks.

Yesterday, about 50 community members, high school students and parents led by activist Angel Cordero marched outside Brown's new school.

"Fire Ms. Brown" and "No justice, no peace," they chanted as they walked up and down Stevens Street.

Some claimed Hispanic children get harsher treatment than other students.

"Racism in Camden is a big thing, and that's a bad message they sent out," said school board candidate Edward Torres, criticizing members of the current board.

Jose Gonzalez, holding a placard that read "Discrimination is a disease," said his daughter, Kimberly, 10, was one of the punished students. He said he was displeased with the board's handling of Brown.

"I don't like to see nobody fired. Everybody needs a job, but I want to see her pay for her mistake," Gonzalez said.

Board officials have declined to discuss the issue in detail, calling it a personnel matter.