Oct 30, 2009 6:09 am US/Eastern
Grade-Fixing Scandal Rocks Bronx High School
Whistleblowers Claim To Know Who Orchestrated It And Why
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
There's a growing scandal at a Bronx high school after a principal was accused of fixing grades.
Investigators are looking into whether failing students at Lehman High School were given a pass, and if others got credit for classes they never took.
The alleged motive might have been money.
Ryann Simpson said she knows she flunked math, but that is not on her report card.
"Math, I was very surprised," Simpson said, adding her original grade was 55 but later it miraculously turned into a 75.
The reason why is a mystery, even to her. No extra credit or projects, no re-dos or after school classes.
"I'm not the one to complain," said Simpson, who added she cannot think of any reason why her grade was changed.
But teachers complained, saying her case is the tip of an iceberg. Armed with transcripts they went to the Department of Education.
One transcript obtained by CBS 2 HD shows a student whose 55 in math was changed to CR or credit -- from flunk to pass with no apparent justification.
The whistleblowers blame Janet Saraceno, who came to the school last with the title Executive Principal and a $25,000 bonus.
CBS 2 HD tried to get to her but was turned away at the school's front gate.
Saraceno composed a congratulatory memo in which she said: "We made modest gains in the graduation rate, but increased credit accumulation for first-year, second-year and third-year students by 8 to 10 percent."
Gains that are now being questioned.
"She's going to turn a blind eye and make them promotable?" Donna Roman said.
"If they are going to be pushed ahead just to be pushed ahead to make the school look better how unfair is that?" parent Karen Lasaponaro added.
The Department of Education confirmed an investigation is underway and said it promises to take appropriate action.
Ivestigators are also looking into whether teachers who blew the whistle on the scandal improperly shared student records.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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