BREA : Alleged Illegal Grade Changing to Be Aired

The Brea Olinda Unified School District Board of Education will interview former and current counselors, registrars and administrators July 16 and 18 to determine how hundreds of student grades were illegally changed at Brea Olinda High School.

More than 360 grades had been changed from the traditional A, B, C, D and F to simple “pass” notations to boost students’ grade-point averages, which increased their chances to graduate and get into colleges and universities. District officials have maintained that former guidance counselors made the grade changes without teacher approval, a procedure they admit is illegal.

Administrators said they discovered the switched grades on transcripts last fall but did not tell teachers. When a teacher found one of her students’ grades had changed without her approval in May, the teachers’ union filed a grievance. That’s when administrators told the school board about the grade switching.

Trustees are inviting all those involved to be interviewed at the district office to offer information on what happened.

Brea Olinda High School Principal John Johnson, Assistant Principal Denise L. Jay, former Principal Jean Sullivan, former counselors Geraldine Gordon and Pat Fox and some teachers will be questioned by the board.

Johnson and Gordon could face disciplinary action form the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which is investigating the matter, because a teacher filed a complaint against them last month.

The interviews will take place from noon to 5 p.m. July 16 and from 6 to 10 p.m. July 18. Unless specific student transcripts or employee behavior is discussed, the interviews will be open to the public, district officials said.

“We’re seeking to understand the magnitude of the problem,” trustee Todd A. Spitzer said. “We want to hear from all the players to see if (the grade changing) was intentional, willful and unlawful. And, we’re not ruling out any remedy. We’ll listen to all the evidence and work to right any wrongs that have occurred.”