Cobble Hill letter to klein - Special Commissioner of Investigation
Cobble Hill letter to klein - Special Commissioner of Investigation
Cobble Hill letter to klein - Special Commissioner of Investigation
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Hon. J. I. Klein -66- June 26, 2007<br />
Cheating<br />
If the cheating at <strong>Cobble</strong> <strong>Hill</strong> was massive and widespread, then the teachers who<br />
denied that it occurred would have been the most vulnerable. Yet all <strong>of</strong> the teachers who<br />
appeared at SCI without representation and testified under oath without immunity denied<br />
that they cheated or that Capra said or did anything wrong.<br />
Colon, a teacher who received administrative immunity from Scarcella and then<br />
admitted <strong>to</strong> wrongly changing scores, would not appear at SCI without being granted a<br />
continuation <strong>of</strong> the administrative immunity.<br />
Every <strong>of</strong>ficial accused <strong>of</strong> wrongdoing by Scarcella and Nobile who appeared at<br />
SCI did so without representation and testified under oath and without immunity. This<br />
included Capra, but not George, whom SCI did not attempt <strong>to</strong> interview.<br />
Through his at<strong>to</strong>rney, Philip Nobile declined <strong>to</strong> be interviewed by SCI.<br />
There was no credible evidence in the OSI investigative case file <strong>to</strong> conclude that<br />
grade inflation by exam scorers occurred at <strong>Cobble</strong> <strong>Hill</strong> in 2002 and 2003. There was no<br />
credible evidence in the OSI investigative case file <strong>to</strong> conclude that Theresa Capra<br />
directed teachers <strong>to</strong> manipulate Regents scores. None <strong>of</strong> the witnesses, whether<br />
interviewed at OSI or in testimony at SCI or the George proceeding, said that they saw<br />
Capra cheat or heard her direct anyone else <strong>to</strong> cheat. Colon attempted <strong>to</strong> assert that she<br />
did; but in the end, he admitted that he changed scores <strong>of</strong> his own accord.<br />
A Cover-Up<br />
We agree with the hearing <strong>of</strong>ficer that Lennel George did not engage in a coverup.<br />
He conducted an investigation at the direction <strong>of</strong> his supervisor. When Scarcella<br />
began his investigation, George provided the names <strong>of</strong> the witnesses who signed the<br />
George <strong>letter</strong>, as well as others – including Kaufman, Leardi, Swords, and Nobile.<br />
Pelles was not involved in a cover-up. 231<br />
Nobile’s complaint.<br />
She directed George <strong>to</strong> investigate<br />
Lyles did not know about the cheating allegation until the Leardi <strong>letter</strong> which<br />
spawned the OSI investigation. She was not involved in a cover-up.<br />
Farina had been promoted and was not informed <strong>of</strong> the allegations about <strong>Cobble</strong><br />
<strong>Hill</strong>. She was not involved in a cover-up.<br />
231 Pelles received a <strong>letter</strong> <strong>to</strong> her file, dated July 6, 2005, which informed her that she “did not adequately<br />
advise the principal, Lennel George … <strong>to</strong> follow established DOE policy and report the allegations <strong>to</strong> OSCI<br />
and/or OSI.”