Allege Teachers Doctored Their Long Illnesses

By HOWARD MEGDAL

RICHARD CONDON: Phantom ailments.

Two Teachers at John Adams High School submitted inauthentic doctors' notes, including one which stated that a Teacher was being treated at a fictional chiropractor's office for a case of vertigo, according to schools Special Commissioner of Investigation Richard J. Condon's Sept. 26 report.

Michelle Mitchell Rosetti, who has since been transferred from the Queens school, and Salvatore Sciortino committed "employee misconduct and theft of service," according to the report.

Ex-Chiropractor, No Less

Ms. Rosetti submitted doctors' notes for eight days in 2003 and 10 in 2005 signed by her then-chiropractor, Mr. Sciortino. His license in that field had expired.

Mr. Sciortino submitted notes on three occasions in 2005 using Dr. Marco D. Carpio's name. Dr. Carpio, when interviewed by SCI, said that Mr. Sciortino had never been his patient.

In 2003, Mr. Sciortino missed nine days, and covered his absences with a doctor's note from chiropractor Anthony Monaco of "Back to Basics Fitness and Chiropractic Center." Doubt was cast upon this claim, however, when it turned out neither the center nor the chiropractor exist.

Mr. Condon recommended that Ms. Rosetti, who was reassigned to the Region 5 Operations Center, and Mr. Sciortino, who continues to be employed by the high school, be terminated and placed on the ineligible list.

DOE spokesman Keith Kalb said in response to the report, "We will not tolerate this type of fraudulent misconduct. We are bringing appropriate disciplinary charges against both employees."