Peekskill School Officials: 34 Students Affected by Irregular Transcripts

Peekskill schools Superintendent James Willis issued an update on the district's investigation into irregularities that were found in a small number of student transcripts earlier today.

The preliminary investigation showed that 34 students scheduled to graduate this year had a class credit on their transcripts for a work study course that the district had discontinued a year ago, Willis said. The district also found a small number of cases in which a course credit was handed out to students inappropriately.

The students and their families were notified last week and individual conferences are being scheduled before Jan. 28, which is the start of the second semester.

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.

Some of the students affected will not be impacted by the investigation, while others may be required to complete additional course work in order to graduate this year. A third group of students will need to take classes in the summer in order to graduate.

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.