ISTEP Problem Part Of Marino Probe
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
After submitting an access to public records request, the Times-Union Monday received, by mail from the Indiana Department of Education, Warsaw Community Schools' full reports on the incident. Names of students involved were redacted.[[In-content Ad]]The reports to the state were signed by WCS Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth, and submitted to Michele Walker, director, Division of Assessment, Indianapolis.
In a report dated July 16, 2007, Haworth wrote, "During the course of an investigation into alleged misconduct by the Leesburg Elementary School Principal, Mr. Marvin Marino, a report of ISTEP+ testing irregularities surfaced. The initial allegation against Mr. Marino was that of creating a hostile work environment.
"The report of possible testing irregularities was reported to me on May 10, 2007, by Ms. Krista Mullett, a Special Education Teacher at Leesburg Elementary and Mr. Terry Sims, President of the Warsaw Community Schools Teacher Association.
"Fearful that through the course of my investigation into the alleged misconduct of Mr. Marino the discussion of improper testing procedures would surface, Ms. Mullett came forward to report ISTEP+ testing irregularities that occurred on Sept. 27 and 28 of 2006. Further complicating the situation was the charge against Mr. Marino which was that of creating a hostile work environment. Ms. Mullett was fearful of repercussions that might occur if the incident was reported by her to the central office at the time of the incident. Mr. Marino served as her direct supervisor."
Haworth then provided e-mails exchanged between Mullett and Marino.
On Sept. 27, 2006, Marino asked Mullett if she gave a reading part of the test to specific student(s). Mullet replied that she and her assistant gave them different parts of the reading tests.
The next morning, Marino asked if the students were "truly very poor readers." Mullett replied they do "struggle a lot" and the students "tend to mess up on the easier words but can read the harder ones. They don't slow down enough to go back and get the meaning of what they have read ..."
Less than 15 minutes later, Marino e-mailed Mullett, asking her if she were able to slow the students down and make them re-read as she tested them. Marino said the students missed "an incredible amount of questions on the test." He asked if Mullett knew who gave the reading tests to the students, and said maybe he could check with that person.
Minutes later, Mullett said the students don't have the strategies down yet of going back to fill in the missing words that they didn't read. She was not sure who all gave the students the tests.
That same day, Mullett then gave her statement. She stated Marino had looked through the ISTEP test taken by the student(s) involved and Marino did not feel they did their best. He asked Mullett why she thought they performed the way that they did.
Marino allegedly then asked Mullett to take a blank ISTEP book and have the student(s) read the first story from Test 1 to her, then record on a separate sheet of paper what the student(s) said their answers would have been.
In her statement, Mullett said, "I did as he instructed me to do. I did not feel 100 percent comfortable with this. He said that he might change their answers in their ISTEP books based on what they did with me. I shared with him that they might have done better the second time they read it because they were a little familiar with the stories and it being the second time through. He said he would take care of it."
At 2:06 p.m. that day, Mullett e-mailed Marino and wrote, "I just worry about how much they remembered after reading the stories the second time and did that help them do better on the tests? They each still had a number of errors in their reading."
Twenty minutes later, Marino replied, "It is up to you. Let me know what you want me to do."
Five minutes later, Mullett sent an e-mailing stating, "I honestly don't feel comfortable making this decision. I really want them to do well (as I do all of our students), but I just don't know what to do ..."
Haworth then provided the DOE with an outline of his investigation. He reported the irregularities were first made known to his office on May 10, 2007.
A day later, Haworth consulted with the directors of human resources and assessment, Audrey Russell and Terry Roe, to inform them of the charge. Roe was asked to conduct research into the student(s') ISTEP results.
On May 17, Haworth met with Russell, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sandra Weaver and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott to inform them of Mullett's allegations.
"I informed them that I would not seek an official reprimand against the teacher because I believe she was following the direct order of her supervisor. I further told them that I would pursue this situation with ISTEP testing after the initial charge of creating a hostile work environment was brought to a conclusion. My rationale for doing so was to bring the school year to a conclusion and not to confuse the two issues. The building climate had already been disrupted by the initial charge of creating a hostile work environment. That investigation resulted in the hearing of testimony from over 40 teachers, parents and community members," Haworth wrote.
On June 18, during an executive session of the school board, Haworth reported he concluded his investigation of Marino and the charge of creating a hostile work environment. He told the board of the charge of testing irregularities, but he also told the board he could not prove that Marino had changed answers on any test.
Eight days later, Haworth, Marino and Russell met. During that meeting, Marino allegedly acknowledged he did instruct Mullett to give a portion of the test again on a separate piece of paper. He also acknowledged he asked Mullett what should be done with the new answers.
Haworth contacted state officials to discuss the steps that needed to be taken. On July 16, during another school board executive session, Haworth informed the board a hearing would be held Aug. 20 to consider cancelling Marino's contract.
Marino turned in his letter of resignation on Aug. 14.
On Aug. 28, Randy Dahms was named the new principal at Leesburg Elementary School.
In his last report to the state, Haworth wrote, "To prevent this matter from occurring again, and to ensure the integrating of the ISTEP test, a special administrative meeting will be held on Sept. 5, 2007. At this meeting, the ethical practices of ISTEP testing will be reviewed. ... We will further follow up this letter by retraining our staff on our current guideline for reporting any unethical violations of test administration or corporation policy."
After submitting an access to public records request, the Times-Union Monday received, by mail from the Indiana Department of Education, Warsaw Community Schools' full reports on the incident. Names of students involved were redacted.[[In-content Ad]]The reports to the state were signed by WCS Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth, and submitted to Michele Walker, director, Division of Assessment, Indianapolis.
In a report dated July 16, 2007, Haworth wrote, "During the course of an investigation into alleged misconduct by the Leesburg Elementary School Principal, Mr. Marvin Marino, a report of ISTEP+ testing irregularities surfaced. The initial allegation against Mr. Marino was that of creating a hostile work environment.
"The report of possible testing irregularities was reported to me on May 10, 2007, by Ms. Krista Mullett, a Special Education Teacher at Leesburg Elementary and Mr. Terry Sims, President of the Warsaw Community Schools Teacher Association.
"Fearful that through the course of my investigation into the alleged misconduct of Mr. Marino the discussion of improper testing procedures would surface, Ms. Mullett came forward to report ISTEP+ testing irregularities that occurred on Sept. 27 and 28 of 2006. Further complicating the situation was the charge against Mr. Marino which was that of creating a hostile work environment. Ms. Mullett was fearful of repercussions that might occur if the incident was reported by her to the central office at the time of the incident. Mr. Marino served as her direct supervisor."
Haworth then provided e-mails exchanged between Mullett and Marino.
On Sept. 27, 2006, Marino asked Mullett if she gave a reading part of the test to specific student(s). Mullet replied that she and her assistant gave them different parts of the reading tests.
The next morning, Marino asked if the students were "truly very poor readers." Mullett replied they do "struggle a lot" and the students "tend to mess up on the easier words but can read the harder ones. They don't slow down enough to go back and get the meaning of what they have read ..."
Less than 15 minutes later, Marino e-mailed Mullett, asking her if she were able to slow the students down and make them re-read as she tested them. Marino said the students missed "an incredible amount of questions on the test." He asked if Mullett knew who gave the reading tests to the students, and said maybe he could check with that person.
Minutes later, Mullett said the students don't have the strategies down yet of going back to fill in the missing words that they didn't read. She was not sure who all gave the students the tests.
That same day, Mullett then gave her statement. She stated Marino had looked through the ISTEP test taken by the student(s) involved and Marino did not feel they did their best. He asked Mullett why she thought they performed the way that they did.
Marino allegedly then asked Mullett to take a blank ISTEP book and have the student(s) read the first story from Test 1 to her, then record on a separate sheet of paper what the student(s) said their answers would have been.
In her statement, Mullett said, "I did as he instructed me to do. I did not feel 100 percent comfortable with this. He said that he might change their answers in their ISTEP books based on what they did with me. I shared with him that they might have done better the second time they read it because they were a little familiar with the stories and it being the second time through. He said he would take care of it."
At 2:06 p.m. that day, Mullett e-mailed Marino and wrote, "I just worry about how much they remembered after reading the stories the second time and did that help them do better on the tests? They each still had a number of errors in their reading."
Twenty minutes later, Marino replied, "It is up to you. Let me know what you want me to do."
Five minutes later, Mullett sent an e-mailing stating, "I honestly don't feel comfortable making this decision. I really want them to do well (as I do all of our students), but I just don't know what to do ..."
Haworth then provided the DOE with an outline of his investigation. He reported the irregularities were first made known to his office on May 10, 2007.
A day later, Haworth consulted with the directors of human resources and assessment, Audrey Russell and Terry Roe, to inform them of the charge. Roe was asked to conduct research into the student(s') ISTEP results.
On May 17, Haworth met with Russell, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sandra Weaver and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott to inform them of Mullett's allegations.
"I informed them that I would not seek an official reprimand against the teacher because I believe she was following the direct order of her supervisor. I further told them that I would pursue this situation with ISTEP testing after the initial charge of creating a hostile work environment was brought to a conclusion. My rationale for doing so was to bring the school year to a conclusion and not to confuse the two issues. The building climate had already been disrupted by the initial charge of creating a hostile work environment. That investigation resulted in the hearing of testimony from over 40 teachers, parents and community members," Haworth wrote.
On June 18, during an executive session of the school board, Haworth reported he concluded his investigation of Marino and the charge of creating a hostile work environment. He told the board of the charge of testing irregularities, but he also told the board he could not prove that Marino had changed answers on any test.
Eight days later, Haworth, Marino and Russell met. During that meeting, Marino allegedly acknowledged he did instruct Mullett to give a portion of the test again on a separate piece of paper. He also acknowledged he asked Mullett what should be done with the new answers.
Haworth contacted state officials to discuss the steps that needed to be taken. On July 16, during another school board executive session, Haworth informed the board a hearing would be held Aug. 20 to consider cancelling Marino's contract.
Marino turned in his letter of resignation on Aug. 14.
On Aug. 28, Randy Dahms was named the new principal at Leesburg Elementary School.
In his last report to the state, Haworth wrote, "To prevent this matter from occurring again, and to ensure the integrating of the ISTEP test, a special administrative meeting will be held on Sept. 5, 2007. At this meeting, the ethical practices of ISTEP testing will be reviewed. ... We will further follow up this letter by retraining our staff on our current guideline for reporting any unethical violations of test administration or corporation policy."
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