Rye Parents Oppose District’s Handling of Cheating Teacher Allegations

Several parents continued to speak out against the Rye City School District’s handling of allegations that four teachers improperly coached students during this spring’s common core testing at the last school board meeting on June 25.

The parents, some of whom have already publically criticized the district’s actions, repeated many of their complaints and accusations, mainly: that the teacher’s should not have been removed from classrooms because the district is not required to do so; that children received poor instruction from substitutes and that children were improperly questioned regarding the allegations. 

Some also called for the district to investigate Osborn School Principal Angela Garcia, claiming she mishandled the situation leaving classes with multiple substitute teachers and little instruction and leading students to believe they were responsible for their teachers departures.

Superintendent Frank Alvarez responded to most of the comments, defending the district, clarifying the substitute situation and standing behind Garcia.

 “The notion that somehow it has been helter skelter for the last couple of weeks is not an accurate perception,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said that he made the decision to place the teachers on administrative reassignment, not Garcia.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Evangelist, told the crowd that she was the person who questioned the students and that Garcia was there too, taking notes.

Parents went into detail about how the teachers involved have helped their children and how much the students loved them. 

Other than responding to some of the complaints, Alvarez and the school board did not go into further detail about the investigation.

“The more information, and it is only trickling in, we get about the claims and allegations made in this case, the less credible they seem,” said parent Peter Gerard. “The judgment to take them seriously appears ridiculously flawed.”

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What do you think of the district's handling of the situation? Please share your thoughts in the comments.