8/2/2019 Statement from District 97
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Jasculca
March 23, 2012 Director of Policy, Planning and
Communications
(708) 524-3006 (office)
[email protected]
DISTRICT 97 SELF REPORTS TO STATE ABOUT POTENTIAL IRREGULARITIES
IN
ADMINISTRATION OF ISAT AT HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal submits resignation following the district's
investigation into allegations
OAK PARK, IL -- Oak Park Elementary School District 97 announced
today that it conducted an investigation
into potential irregularities associated with the administration
of the 2012 Illinois Standard Achievement Test
(ISAT) at Horace Mann Elementary School after receiving
notification last week that the school may have been
participating in activities that conflicted with the ISAT
testing protocols established by the Illinois State Board
of Education (ISBE).
After it was made aware of the potential irregularities, the
district immediately launched an investigation into
the allegations and contacted ISBE to report its initial
findings. It discovered several possible violations at the
school regarding post-test procedures that were carried out by a
few staff members and relate to the tests taken
by a small number of students in grades three through five.
These violations included staff members reviewing
test booklets and answer documents for stray marks and missing
answers after they had been turned in by
students; staff members erasing stray marks on the test booklets
and answer documents; students being given
extra time to transcribe answers from the test booklets to the
answer documents; and students being given extratime to answer
questions that they may have missed or skipped for reasons that
include pages being stuck
together. The district found no indication of testing
improprieties at any of its other schools.
The districts final report summarizing the results of its
investigation has been sent to ISBE. It does not know
when it will receive a response from the state agency, but
expects it may take several weeks. Superintendent Al
Roberts explained why the district believed it was important to
make an announcement about its investigation at
this juncture.
While we anticipate that it may take some time for ISBE to issue
its ruling regarding Mann Schools
administration of the 2012 ISAT, we felt it was our duty and
responsibility to be forthcoming and
straightforward about this matter with the citizens of Oak Park,
said Roberts. Our community can rest assuredthat we take these
allegations very seriously, and will enact the necessary measures
to ensure that all future
tests, assessments and standards are administered in accordance
with the Illinois School Code, are carried out
with fidelity and serve the best interest of our students.
Roberts further explained what steps are being taken by the
district to address the actions by the staff members
who were responsible for the alleged violations.
More
970 Madison Oak Park Illinois 60302 ph: 708.524.3000 fax:
708.524.3019 www.op97.org
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The district has begun disciplinary proceedings against the
individuals involved in this matter, but is
constrained by the law from disclosing details regarding such
actions taken against an employee, said Roberts.
While members of our staff clearly exercised poor judgment in
this situation, I want to emphasize that they did
not act with malice, nor did they intend to provide anyone with
an unfair advantage on the test. Mann is an
exemplary school with an extraordinary staff that is dedicated
to meeting the needs of the families we serve.
However, standardized assessments, such as the ISAT, are
governed by a strict set of rules and guidelines that
must be followed at all times. It appears that we failed to do
so in this case, and we must accept the
consequences.
Roberts also announced that Nimisha Kumar, the principal of Mann
School, had submitted her resignation
following the results of the districts investigation.
Based on the alleged activities, Ms. Kumar felt it was best to
step down from her position as principal of the
school. The District 97 Board of Education accepted her
resignation during a special meeting held at the
districts administration building last night, and her last day
will be June 30, 2012.
Roberts thanked Kumar for her full cooperation with the
investigation, and expressed his appreciation for her
seven years of service to Mann School and the Oak Park
community. He also said that the district is currently
reviewing the options available for filling the vacancy created
by Kumars departure. These options may
include assigning someone to serve as the principal on an
interim basis for the 2012-2013 school year so the
district can conduct a formal search that would include
soliciting feedback from stakeholders about the qualities
and characteristics they believe the permanent replacement
should possess.
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