INQUIRER: South Philadelphia High School’s principal faces harsh criticism over the Dec. 3 attack on Asian students by some of their African American schoolmates. But controversy is nothing new to LaGreta Brown. During nearly a decade in Atlantic City, a tenure that included running the city’s major high school, Brown became involved in numerous disputes with parents, teachers, and staff. Her time there ended in 2008, when she resigned ahead of a school board vote on her dismissal. District administrators are not concerned about Brown’s troubled record in Atlantic City, saying she was exonerated of any wrongdoing. She continues to have the strong support of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, said district spokeswoman Evelyn Sample-Oates. “She came into a rough situation, but she’s trying to do the best she can,” Sample-Oates said. “What happened on Dec. 3, none of us anticipated would happen, at this magnitude.” That day, large groups of mostly African American students attacked about 30 Asian students both inside and outside the school, sending seven young people to the hospital. Marcia Genova, president of the Atlantic City Education Association, the teachers’ union, said yesterday that she was surprised Brown had been hired in Philadelphia because “we had so many problems with her here.” MORE

PREVIOUSLY: Asian Students Boycott School Over Ethnic Violence

UPDATE: After meeting with schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman in Chinatown tonight, the 50 Asian students have been boycotting classes at South Philadelphia High agreed to return to school.