Probe Alleged Grade Inflation At S.I. School

By HOWARD MEGDAL

Even as Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein ordered an investigation into the inflation of student scores on Regents' exams at Susan Wagner High School, the school's Principal was "interrogating" Teachers about claims that he was responsible, according to United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.

RANDI WEINGARTEN: Suspected intimidation.

Principal Gary Giordano was accused last month by 17 educators at the Staten Island school of ordering Teachers to add points to student scores between 2004 and June 2006.

Ongoing Investigation

"A group of Teachers contacted us about these allegations on Oct. 16," Ms. Weingarten said. "We reported it to the DOE the next day and the investigation is ongoing. We will fully cooperate in the investigation."

Mr. Klein said that "it's a serious allegation, and we'll do a serious investigation on it."

Mr. Giordano declined through his union to comment, citing advice from his lawyer.

The UFT has asserted that after learning of the investigation, Mr. Giordano called the 17 Teachers into his office one-by-one to discuss the matter. Some within the union believe the tactic was meant to intimidate the Teachers.

UFT: 'We Stopped it'

"I called DOE as soon as I heard about this and asked them to tell the Principal to stop," Ms. Weingarten said. "They got back to me within a half-hour and said it had been stopped."

The New York Times reported that some Regents grades were changed by an Assistant Principal who took the exams home, while others were rescored by untenured Teachers at the insistence of administrators.

A spokesman for the State Education Department also said it would be looking into the matter. Students must pass five Regents' exams in order to graduate with a Regents' diploma, with school performance being measured in part based on the testing results.