Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 | 3:54 p.m.
After a two-year investigation revealed a cheating scandal at Kelly Elementary School, Clark County School District Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky has decided he won’t suspend or fire the principal or assistant principal.
Instead, he is leaving that decision to the Clark County School Board, which meets on Nov. 13.
Skorkowsky also said he will not recommend revoking the school administrators’ licenses, because of a lack of evidence that either was involved in the cheating.
The decision was part of the School District’s response to the Nevada State Department of Education’s findings into altered test scores on Kelly’s third-grade Criterion Reference Test.
“One of the biggest challenges is coming up with definitive, conclusive evidence that says either of these individuals are guilty of anything,” Skorkowsky said. “And we could not do that.”
Both Kelly’s principal, Patricia Harris, and assistant principal, Steven Niemeier, have been reassigned within the district.
Niemeier is an assistant principal at Sue Morrow Elementary School, while Harris is a principal on assignment in the district’s ombudsman office.
The investigation began in 2012 under former Superintendent Dwight Jones after an anonymous informant reported allegations that teachers had changed scores on the third-grade Criterion Reference Test.
Kelly student test scores spiked about 45 points that year in reading and science, compared to the district average increase of about four points.
The Department of Education concluded that scores had been erased and changed. Teachers were encouraged to walk around the room and prompt kids by saying, “look at their answer again,” according to its report. The report indicated that changing test scores may have been widespread.
As recommended by the Department of Education, the district has tossed out the 2011-2012 test scores and revised its test-taking security measures.
“We’ve first had to revise our test security documents to make sure they align 100 percent with state documents,” Skorkowsky said. “We’ve done extensive training with principals about building guidelines and that they understand those guidelines.”
The department found that Niemeier, who was in charge of securing the test, did not follow procedure. Tests were ordered to be stored in a locked cabinet, but when one did not arrive in time, he had the tests stored in a closet in his office, the department found.
The district said Niemeier followed protocol as outlined at the time.
The Department of Education also determined the School District did not properly investigate the findings.
The district, under the direction Jones, disputed the claim, arguing that it followed protocol. It interviewed the principal and assistant principal and then forwarded the report to the Nevada Department of Education.
Skorkowsky said the district is in the process of revamping instruction and academic support at Kelly. It has named an internal and external committee to develop an academic program.
The school will start that program in the fall under a new principal.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy