Murphy’s letter to Darryl’s mother, Darresha George, said that the teen would be removed from the high school on Wednesday and placed in the EPIC program through Nov. 29.
Darryl, a high school junior, had been placed on in-school suspension since Aug. 31 because his twisted locs violated the school district’s dress and grooming code, per the family. He was suspended again on Sept. 18 for having the same hairstyle when he arrived at school.
Allie Booker, Darryl’s family attorney, wrote in the lawsuit that Darryl “should be permitted to wear his hair in the manner in which he wears it … because the so-called neutral grooming policy has no close association with learning or safety and when applied, disproportionately impacts Black males."
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Sept. 22, David Bloom of the Barbers Hill Independent School District, said that Texas’ new law “prohibits a dress or grooming policy that discriminates against ‘protective hairstyles.’”
PEOPLE reached out to the Barbers Hill Independent School District on Thursday for comment.
In Wednesday’s letter, Murphy wrote that as principal, “I have determined that your child has engaged in chronic or repeated disciplinary infractions that violate the District’s previously communicated standards of student conduct."
“Your child has had the misconduct explained to him and has been given the opportunity to present his responses to these charges,” the letter continued.
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Murphy added in his letter that Darryl could return to his regular classroom program on Nov. 30. However, the principal said the teen is not allowed to visit the campus while he is in the alternative education program unless he discusses his conduct with school administrators.
Dr. Candice Matthews, a spokesperson for the George family, also told PEOPLE that Darryl felt “scared” as he stood outside of the DAEP-EPIC building.
The Barbers Hill Independent School District said last month that they have filed a declaratory judgment lawsuit, asking for court clarification about whether Texas’ CROWN Act prohibits grooming policies surrounding the length of a male student’s hair.
source: people.com
