Suspensions Handed Out in Grade-Tampering Case
Five school staff members, including two principals, face suspensions.
New Haven's Superintendent of schools has decided to discipline five members of the school system in connection with a grade tampering probe.
New Haven's superintendent of schools has decided to discipline five members of the school system in connection with a grade tampering probe.
Dr. Reginald Mayo began an investigation last fall after an assistant principal at Hillhouse High School leveled accusations that Hillhouse Principal, Kermit Carolina tampered with grades and gave preferential treatment to student-athletes at the school.
A lawyer hired by the school district reviewed student transcripts, grade reports, summer school reports and other memos, and conducted dozens of interviews, Mayo said.
According to Mayo, the investigation found:
With Principal Kermit Carolina’s knowledge, Hillhouse staff member Ed Scarpa deleted a reference to summer school on two student athletes’ transcripts for two classes taken at Riverside Academy summer school.
Two Hillhouse student athletes were given preferential treatment in summer school at Riverside Academy and were awarded twice as many credits as other students, yet only had to attend class for half the amount of time.
One student athlete missed 45 days of school and was still promoted to the 12th grade in direct violation of Hillhouse’s “160 day rule.”
One student athlete was granted three school credits for work experience without confirmation that the hours were actually worked and without filling out the required form for work credits. Carolina breached protocol when he signed off on the credits without the hours first being verified.
Carolina and other Hillhouse administrators allowed a process whereby coaches and other staff influenced grades, course selection and credits for certain students. The lack of oversight over coaches and the extraordinary efforts to adjust courses mid-year for certain students created to a culture of special treatment for certain student athletes.
Tuesday, Mayo announced the suspensions of four people for their roles in the grade-tampering, including Wanda Gibbs, principal at Riverside Academy, Hillhouse Assistant Principal, John Nguyen, part-time administrator Ed Scarpa, and Hillhouse football coach Thomas Dyer.
Each was suspended for two days without pay.
Mayo met with each staff member to issue the discipline, but could not reach Hillhouse Principal Kermit Carolina on Tuesday. Carolina left early from school and did not return the superintendent's phone calls, according to Mayo. Discipline would be issued to Carolina when he could be contacted, Mayo said.
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