LORI AND JERRY, THIS LAWSUIT WAS FILED A WEEK AGO HERE IN THE FEDERAL MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA COURT. AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE TWO BOYS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS LAWSUIT ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT CUMBERLAND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, BUT IT IS SAID IN THE LAWSUIT THAT THEY ARE DESCRIBED AS BEING BIRACIAL, BUT ALSO THEIR APPEARANCE IS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK. AND THIS LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN COURT BY A PARENT. THE MOTHER OF THE TWO BOYS. ACCORDING TO THAT LAWSUIT, IT SAYS THAT THE BOYS HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR YEARS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. FACING RACIALLY HOSTILE BEHAVIOR FROM CLASSMATES AND IN MANY CASES, IN SOME CASES, STAFF MEMBERS. IT’S ALSO ALLEGED THAT THE CHILDREN RECEIVED UNEQUAL DISCIPLINE TREATMENT AND SUPPORTS IN COMPARISON TO WHITE STUDENTS. A LAWYER INVOLVED IN THE LAWSUIT SAYS THE OLDER BOY HAD TO ENDURE DEROGATORY LANGUAGE FROM A TEACHER WHILE THEY WERE A SOPHOMORE, AND THAT THE TEACHER ALSO COMPARED A BLACK CLASSMATE TO A MONKEY. I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO RACIALLY HOSTILE THAT TEACHERS FEEL, AND EVEN EDUCATORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF THESE CHILDREN FEEL THAT THEY CAN JUST SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT, REGARDLESS OF HOW BAD IT HARMS ANYBODY. THE LAWSUIT POINTS TOWARDS SEVERAL OTHER ALLEGATIONS OF HOSTILE BEHAVIOR TOWARD MINORITIES, INCLUDING A CIVIL LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED LAST YEAR AGAINST THE DISTRICT. SOME BOARD MEMBERS AND ITS CHEERLEADING COACHES. NOW, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS NOT YET SEEN OR BEEN SERVED THE LAWSUIT. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD NOT COMMENT ON ALLEGATION

Lawsuit claims racially hostile environment at Cumberland County school district

A recently filed lawsuit in federal court claims that a racially hostile environment has existed for years and led to the mistreatment of a pair of high school students and their peers over the last several years.The lawsuit was filed on Jan. 24 in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and names the Cumberland Valley School District and a number of other officials as defendants in the lawsuit.The suit claims that two high school students, identified as biracial boys who predominantly appear Black, have been unevenly disciplined, treated, and supported during years within the district. Their mother, who is referred to only as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, is identified as the parent of the children.On occasion, detailed in the complaint, the older boy was verbally disparaged by an educator who also compared one of his Black classmates to a monkey.”Just think this is a situation where the environment is so racially hostile that teachers and educators responsible for the care of these children can just say whatever they want regardless of how bad it harms anybody. The behavior of these educators is appalling,” said Nicholas Miller, an attorney with Brenlove & Fuller who is representing the family.Cumberland Valley School District’s spokesperson said the administration had not yet received the lawsuit.”As a result, we are unable to provide comment on allegations we have not yet reviewed,” said Becci Leathery, a district communications coordinator.Miller said additional legal action could ensue for the district, which he said has allowed a culture of racial hostility toward minority students to fester.

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

A recently filed lawsuit in federal court claims that a racially hostile environment has existed for years and led to the mistreatment of a pair of high school students and their peers over the last several years.

The lawsuit was filed on Jan. 24 in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and names the Cumberland Valley School District and a number of other officials as defendants in the lawsuit.

The suit claims that two high school students, identified as biracial boys who predominantly appear Black, have been unevenly disciplined, treated, and supported during years within the district. Their mother, who is referred to only as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, is identified as the parent of the children.

On occasion, detailed in the complaint, the older boy was verbally disparaged by an educator who also compared one of his Black classmates to a monkey.

“Just think this is a situation where the environment is so racially hostile that teachers and educators responsible for the care of these children can just say whatever they want regardless of how bad it harms anybody. The behavior of these educators is appalling,” said Nicholas Miller, an attorney with Brenlove & Fuller who is representing the family.

Cumberland Valley School District’s spokesperson said the administration had not yet received the lawsuit.

“As a result, we are unable to provide comment on allegations we have not yet reviewed,” said Becci Leathery, a district communications coordinator.

Miller said additional legal action could ensue for the district, which he said has allowed a culture of racial hostility toward minority students to fester.