Those Meddling Kids

The human cost of a newspaper investigation

Sometimes, it’s not a glib feel-good story.

“Philadelphia Academy Charter School founder Brien N. Gardiner, under federal investigation in connection with his management of the school, committed suicide yesterday afternoon, police said. … Gardiner founded Philadelphia Academy in Northeast Philadelphia in 1999; he also opened the Northwood Academy Charter School in 2005, and at one time was chief executive of both charters.

He later became a consultant at Philadelphia Academy. That contract was terminated last spring, after The Inquirer disclosed that the Philadelphia School District inspector general was investigating allegations of financial mismanagement, nepotism, and conflicts of interest at the school.

A federal criminal investigation … was launched later last spring.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 2009.