The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
16
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/010805_nw_grades.html
Grade Inflation Scandal Cover Up?
January 9, 2005 --A lawsuit filed by a Camden teacher claims the Board of Education and several top administrators transferred her after she revealed grade inflation at a city high school and that the officials then tried to cover up the scandal.
The lawsuit filed in federal court Friday by Paula Veggian is centered on contentions she made in July that transcripts at the Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High School, the city's top secondary school, were changed improperly.
Veggian said in the lawsuit that after she reported the grade inflation she was transferred to a lower paying job and harassed.
Harvey Johnson, school board solicitor, denied any wrongdoing by district officials. <
br>
"We have forwarded this matter about the grades to the C
amden County Prosecutor's Office," Johnson told Gannett New Jersey. "That was done months ago, and it is still under investigation."
The board has been investigating allegations that a longtime counselor at the Brimm school changed student grades. In some cases students were able to graduate without enough credits and others had failing grades changed to passing, according to the lawsuit.
The counselor was suspended with pay last month for "conduct unbecoming a board employee," but officials offered no additional details.
Veggian's lawsuit contends that district officials conspired to keep word about "systemic" grade changing from the public and colleges considering student transcripts.
Philip E. Freeman Sr., school board president, said he had not seen a copy of the lawsuit.
"I don't have any information regarding her allegations," Freeman told t
he Philadelphia Inquirer. "The board will be very interested in addressing these issues."
The school board in the state's poorest city
has had other problems to deal with lately. It was unable to pay bills and approve personnel changes recently due to board member absences. Freeman canceled two meetings late last year after only three of the seven members showed up.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/010805_nw_grades.html
Grade Inflation Scandal Cover Up?
January 9, 2005 --A lawsuit filed by a Camden teacher claims the Board of Education and several top administrators transferred her after she revealed grade inflation at a city high school and that the officials then tried to cover up the scandal.
The lawsuit filed in federal court Friday by Paula Veggian is centered on contentions she made in July that transcripts at the Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High School, the city's top secondary school, were changed improperly.
Veggian said in the lawsuit that after she reported the grade inflation she was transferred to a lower paying job and harassed.
Harvey Johnson, school board solicitor, denied any wrongdoing by district officials. <
br>
"We have forwarded this matter about the grades to the C
amden County Prosecutor's Office," Johnson told Gannett New Jersey. "That was done months ago, and it is still under investigation."
The board has been investigating allegations that a longtime counselor at the Brimm school changed student grades. In some cases students were able to graduate without enough credits and others had failing grades changed to passing, according to the lawsuit.
The counselor was suspended with pay last month for "conduct unbecoming a board employee," but officials offered no additional details.
Veggian's lawsuit contends that district officials conspired to keep word about "systemic" grade changing from the public and colleges considering student transcripts.
Philip E. Freeman Sr., school board president, said he had not seen a copy of the lawsuit.
"I don't have any information regarding her allegations," Freeman told t
he Philadelphia Inquirer. "The board will be very interested in addressing these issues."
The school board in the state's poorest city
has had other problems to deal with lately. It was unable to pay bills and approve personnel changes recently due to board member absences. Freeman canceled two meetings late last year after only three of the seven members showed up.