In the realm of school testing scandals, what went on recently at Mann School during administration of the ISAT tests is fairly minor. A few teachers gave a few kids some extra time to wrap up. A few teachers tidied up the work sheets of a few kids by erasing errant pencil marks.
No one is excusing it. But it is not a conspiracy to boost test scores either. School Supt. Albert Roberts, rightly called it a “lapse in judgment” by those involved.
The result, so far, is that a pretty darned good principal has fallen on her sword and, once spring break is over, a few teachers will receive some sort of deserved discipline. This is a fair and proportional response by District 97 administrators who cannot tolerate testing procedures being violated and who cannot be seen as excusing such behavior, even if the circumstances here are seemingly innocent.
We’re impressed by the chain of circumstances which led to this outcome. A Mann teacher called the head of the Oak Park Teachers Association. The OPTA chief called a district administrator who, in turn, reported the allegations to Roberts. That was just two weeks ago. Since then the district has investigated the charges, ascertained that the damage was limited to Mann and has publicly explained the issues. That’s the sort of swift and fair response necessary, but not always evident, in such cases.
Coupled with the twin principal departures at the middle schools, Roberts now has three top jobs to fill. His decision to attempt to fill the Mann post by fall but not to force it if the right candidate doesn’t appear, is also the right approach. Best to get an inclusive search process underway and to accept the possibility of an interim principal for a year than to rush into a bad hire.