Norfolk council to schools: Come clean on testing issues

NORFOLK

Upset by the revelation of testing problems at a fourth school, City Council members said Wednesday that it's time to disclose any other accreditation irregularities, and one called for an audit to review whether the division is being run efficiently.

"It's hurting the reputation of our schools for this information to keep trickling out," Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot said. "The school administration and School Board need to get their arms around this, find out if there are any other irregularities, and go public with it."

Dreamkeepers Academy, an award-winning magnet school, failed to test 16 of 160 students in at least one of four portions of the Standards of Excellence tests, The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday.

Northside and Lafayette-Winona middle schools and Campostella Elementary also have had testing irregularities.

Nicole Fagnan, a former Dreamkeepers teacher, said teachers "were asked to cheat" on the tests.

Burfoot said he's "standing behind the principal and the teachers at Dreamkeepers. Who I'm not standing behind is the administration and School Board."

Burfoot joined three dozen Dreamkeepers parents, staff members and supporters who gathered at the school Wednesday to defend its principal, Doreatha White, as inspirational, demanding and hard working.

"It really reduced me to tears," Sabrina Mullen, a parent of three Dreamkeepers pupils, said about headlines of testing problems. "I love this school. I stand by Dr. White and the teachers. This is a good school."

Businessman Charles Marks, a Dreamkeepers patron and booster, said: "The teachers have enthusiasm, and we win awards. I feel hurt when I hear things said."

Most council members criticized school administrators.

Councilman W. Randy Wright characterized the latest problems as outrageous.

"The mere thought that there could be a coordinated effort to cheat is chilling," he said. "It looks like people are telling teachers to cheat."

Councilman Don Williams said the more the problems occur, the more suspicious he becomes. "You can make a mistake a couple of times," Williams said, "but it's getting to be ridiculous now."

Mayor Paul Fraim said he was surprised to learn that not even School Board Chairman Stephen Tonelson knew of Dreamkeeper s' testing irregularities. Fraim said he will ask the board to meet with the council soon.

"We should have been told," Burfoot said. "Once again, the council was caught flat-footed. Apparently, so was the School Board."

Calling the school system "top-heavy with administrators," Burfoot also called for a city financial audit of the school system, something school officials have resisted in recent years.

Unlike in most cities and counties in Virginia, Norfolk School Board members are appointed by the council rather than elected.

Councilwoman Daun S. Hester said Dreamkeepers' problems surfaced because of steps taken by school administrators to ensure that all the necessary tests were turned in.

According to Jones, the division's regular oversight procedures discovered in June that test answer sheets weren't filed for the 16 students. That lapse violates state rules that test sheets be filed even for students who don't take the exams.

The division notified Dreamkeepers, which subsequently provided the sheets, with information on why each student didn't take the test. The division notified the state Education Department of the irregularities.

"The newspaper story was a result of steps the board took," Hester said. "In the long run, the majority of children in our district are doing the best they can and our teachers are working their butts off."

Williams, who has grandchildren in the school system, agreed, but he said the testing problems are serious.

"This has gone past being a mistake," he said. "We need some answers and need them pronto."

Pilot writer Steven Vegh contributed to this report.

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com