JEFFERSONVILLE —
Parents of students at Parkview Middle School who are potentially affected are being notified that a portion of their child’s ISTEP test may be invalidated because of allegations of inappropriate test procedures and protocols by one teacher.
That’s according to Marty Bell, chief operating officer for Greater Clark County Schools.
And that’s not all. Bell said a separate internal investigation found that two people, a counselor and a dean, whom Bell would not identify by name, had significant inappropriate use of the district’s technology system and breached the acceptable use policy. Bell would not say what that entailed, but did say that it did not involve child pornography and that law enforcement is not involved in the matter.
Parkview’s Web site only has one person listed as a dean — John Buckwalter — who also is a seventh-grade counselor. There was no phone number listed for Buckwalter at Whitepages.com.
Bell said more people were possibly involved with the inappropriate use of the technology system, but that the district only has enough conclusive information to recommend the termination of the contracts for the two. He said the investigation is ongoing to see if there is enough evidence on more employees.
The teacher, counselor and dean all have been suspended with pay pending termination, which the superintendent is recommending to the school board that meets again to vote on this matter April 27, Bell said.
On Friday, a letter was sent home to parents of all 88 students affected by the teacher’s possible termination, letting them know that if the Indiana Department of Education agrees that there was a security breach and inappropriate testing procedures, the social studies portion of the ISTEP test would be invalidated.
However, Bell stated that this issue wouldn’t count against the students.
Kim Preston, communications director for IDOE, said instead of getting a score on that portion of the test, it would be blank if the department agrees with the district.
“It would just show up as if the student didn’t take that portion of the test. Really, no consequences for the student, but no scores,” she said.
She said the test would not be administered again, since there is just one test and the students already took it. The multiple-choice test set to start between April and May will be given as scheduled.
Preston said she’s unsure of when a decision on the invalidation of scores would be made, saying the IDOE will need to review Greater Clark’s report first. The letter to parents stated that they will be notified as soon as a decision is reached by the state.
Bell said the three people accused have due process rights that can be exercised between the time of notification Thursday and the school board meeting.
Bell said the incident with the teacher is not associated with the ones with the technology systems, though he said those two — the dean and counselor — were connected.
Bell said the April 27 school board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the administration building.
Clark County
3 Parkview employees facing termination
One counselor, dean accused of inappropriate use of the school’s technology Teacher accused of breaching ISTEP administration policy; scores for students may be invalid for portion of the test
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Jeffersonville’s emergency coordinator departs city
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CAPITOL CROSSROADS: Candidates struggle with Indiana ballot hurdles
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Underwood man found dead in woods
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Military vehicles leave Clarksville police station
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Jeffersonville law department still being negotiated
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Most area graduation rates above state average
According to a release from IDOE, Indiana’s state graduation rate came in at 85.7 percent. About 45 percent of high schools met or exceeded the 90 percent mark and 83 percent graduated 80 percent of their seniors or more.
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Jeffersonville’s emergency coordinator departs city
