Board Addresses Peekskill High School Transcript Investigation

Peekskill schools Superintendent Jim Willis said that he expected the vast majority of students affected by the district's investigation into a credit that was handed out for a course that is no longer being offered.

Willis read a statement during Tuesday's school board meeting addressing the district's investigation into 34 high school students who received credit for a work experience course that the district no longer offered.

Willis said the district's firsts order of business is to help out students who are on schedule to graduate this year. Willis said the district also wanted to look at the transcripts of former students.

"Just for a historical perspective, because we're taking no action against those former students," Willis said.

The district is currently in the process of scheduling interviews with students who are affected the transcript impropriety and developing individual plans for each of them. Willis said the district expected to meet with as many 10 students by the end of today.

The district announced its investigation more than a week ago. As a result, three guidance counselors from the high school and one middle school guidance counselor were placed on a paid administrative reassignment while the transcripts were being probed.

The district is currently in the process of recruiting and hiring additional guidance counselors to fill in the gap. An assistant high school principal and other school support staff are assisting until more guidance counselors have been hired.

George Ondek, a Peekskill resident, called the incident a black mark on Peekskill and demanded answers.

"Why would guidance counselor's want to change marks," Ondek asked. "Did it come from up above?"

Willis said he is hampered by what he can talk about, since the case is now being investigated by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office. 

"I know that this is frustrating to hear, but because of the nature of the investigation and the fact it's been turned over to law enforcement, answering specific questions will be very difficult," Willis said.

A video of school board President Joseph Urbanowicz reading his statement is attached to this story.