Whatever happened involving ISTEP testing at Leesburg Elementary School that may have lead to the resignation of Principal Marv Marino will shortly become public record.
According to Indiana Department of Education Director of Communications Jason Bearce, the Department of Education received a report of an ISTEP issue at Leesburg Aug. 17.
"There is a report of some sort of testing issue at that school," Bearce said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon.
At this time, the Department of Education has no specifics on who and what is involved. But Bearce said that unless the incident involves cheating on a large scale, what typically happens is that someone at the school or within the corporation reports misconduct with regard to testing.
The school district then conducts an investigation and contacts the Department of Education. Until the Department receives that report, Bearce said he can't speculate on the matter.
The report is public record because it involves ISTEP, Bearce said, and can be provided by the school corporation. He said he expected the report by the school corporation to be finished and turned in to the Department of Education by sometime next week.
Marino resigned Aug. 14, but had not been at his post prior to his resignation. The school board officially accepted his resignation at Monday's meeting.
During public comments at Warsaw's school board meeting Monday, School Board President Ron Yeiter said the situation was frustrating to everyone and read the following prepared statement: "Mr. Marino has resigned his employment with Warsaw Community Schools. Warsaw Community Schools has discussed a procedural matter involving Mr. Marino with the Indiana Department of Education. No student has been physically or emotionally harmed. We are not at liberty to share any additional information, which is confidential personnel information. Neither are individual board members at liberty to share additional information."
Four parents also spoke at the meeting asking for more information regarding Marino's resignation, and supported Leesburg's former principal.
Until a new principal is found for Leesburg, Eisenhower Elementary Principal Chris Gensinger will fulfill the duties of his school and Leesburg Elementary.
Marino was hired as Leesburg's principal in July 2004. He replaced Lynn Simmers, who resigned as Leesburg principal effective July 29, 2004. Marino was selected by a committee made up of administrators, teachers and parents.
In October 2006, Leesburg was one of only two Indiana schools to win the Indiana Title I Distinguished School Award.
In February, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed recommended Leesburg for the Eighth Annual National School Change Awards. In her letter of recommendation for the award, Reed wrote that Leesburg "has made significant progress in the last three years on the Indiana Statewide Test of Academic Progress."
After being recommended for the award, Leesburg School then had to apply for the award.
On May 2, Marino received notice from Lew Smith, National School Change Award director, that Leesburg was selected as one of 26 finalists in the award process.
