The principal of a West Town elementary school should be suspended for a maximum 30 days without pay in what is believed to be the largest test cheating incident in recent memory, Chicago Public Schools Chief Paul Vallas has recommended.
A school counselor also faces a 10-day suspension without pay at Carpenter Elementary School, 1250 W. Erie St.
The disciplinary action was recommended because Principal Barbara Roberts failed to secure the tests in a safe for up to 48 hours after the students had completed the exams, said Blondean Davis, chief of school operations.
The school’s entire 8th-grade class was required to retake the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills earlier this month. Although the 47 students were not involved in the scandal, officials said someone changed incorrect answers to correct ones on some tests and filled in incomplete tests on others after pupils turned in the exams.
The “widespread changing of answers” included at least 50 erasures. After the students were retested, their scores dropped dramatically, Davis said.
She refused to comment on whether school officials knew who changed the answers, or if school officials were continuing their investigation.
Vallas recommended a 10-day suspension without pay for school counselor Helen Hart, who was responsible for actually securing the tests and materials.
In addition, both Hart and Roberts face a “warning resolution” that they could be fired if another such incident occurs.
“They were remiss in their responsibilities,” said Davis. “The security regulations were not followed.”
Roberts and Hart can appeal to a hearing officer, who will then make a recommendation to the full school board that will make the final decision.
The hearing officer can recommend a shorter suspension but cannot increase it, Davis said. The officer is mandated to hold the hearing within 10 days of service of the charges. The school board is expected to vote on the suspensions in July.
If approved, Roberts would be suspended almost immediately because she is a year-round employee and is currently overseeing summer school, Davis said.
