Warwick teachers describe alleged test improprieties
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WARWICK _ More than 80 students at Gorton Junior High School were given repeated opportunities to complete portions of state tests in a clear violation of the rules, two teachers alleged at Tuesday night's School Committee meeting. The teachers, Stephen Andolfo and Michael Peirce, said they chose to speak out because they are frustrated by the administration's handling of the matter and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) which has not issued a ruling even though teachers filed complaints with the state back in October. "I believe the whole testing process here was tainted," Andolfo said of the way the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) tests were administered at Gorton last October. "The teachers knew ... the kids knew that cheating had taken place," he said. Andolfo and fellow social studies teacher Michael Peirce said in the days after the testing was supposed to be completed, they had numerous students tell them that they been summoned to the principal's office to fill out parts of the tests that were not completed. They said their concerns were shared by other teachers. In January, the state Department of Education verified that it is investigating "serious allegations" that some Gorton students may have received improper advantages in taking the tests, but would not elaborate on the specifics. Today, department spokesman Elliot Krieger said a decision should be forthcoming. The Gorton test scores are not being released to the school district while the investigation is pending. When informed of the teachers' remarks before the School Committee, Krieger said, "I would not make any assumptions based on that." He declined to be more specific, but said it is likely that the department will issue its findings by next month because that is when it ranks schools based on their NECAP scores. Gorton Principal Mary Caporelli did not return a call for comment yesterday. Warwick School Supt. Peter P. Horoschak said that his administration has cooperated fully with the Department of Education and that it also conducted some fact-finding on its own which was submitted to the state. He noted that local administrators were limited because the teachers who complained directly to RIDE had asked that their identities be kept confidential. Horoschak, who yesterday reiterated comments he made Tuesday night in updating the committee on the RIDE investigation, said that in late January, his office received an outline of some preliminary findings from the state. In response, Horoschak said he requested a meeting with some officials at the Department of Education and "stressed the urgency in bringing this matter to conclusion as soon as possible." At that meeting, Horoschak said he presented corrective actions that Gorton could take to make sure it is in strict compliance with state testing regulations. He said he got the impression that RIDE was pleased with the plan and did not seem inclined to find any malicious intent at Gorton, although nothing is final until an official ruling is issued. "We don't want a shadow hanging over us or these scores," Horoschak said after Tuesday's meeting adjourned. 
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What a shock "The Grim Reaper" speaks out against the administration. Those of you who don't know about the Grim Reaper, go back and check the arrest files from teachers who were arrested for striking years ago in Warwick. Take his comments with a grain of salt before taking them as gospel
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This is the result of unrealistic expectations being attached to teachers and the fact that several teachers at Gorton hate the Principal that they ratted out. Only the worst kind of fool or partisan believes that "more testing" will solve America's problem with public education. You can't solve America's public school problem until you heal the American family, dramatically lower the current 35% out of wedlock birthrate, and be totally honest about how many children are "college material". Right now Political Correctness (PC) rules our culture and like it's right-wing predecessor of 50 years ago, McCarthyism, it's nothing more than an institutionalized lie. Heal the family, only make babies you're willing to live with and raise, prepare your children for school, get involved in their education, and have realistic expectations for both the students AND the teachers and we have a chance. Short of that we're just "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic".
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I don't know about the testing situation, but I assume that the anonymous poster above is referring to Mr. Andolfo with his comments (I don't remember a Mr. Peirce back when I was at Gorton). Is this the Mr. Andolfo who helps collect food for the needy, runs a community garden and raises money for foster children? Who teaches his students to be involved, patriotic, and honest at all costs? It's been (many) years since I had him, but no other teacher had the impact on me that he did. I live in Warwick still today, and a few years ago my son had Mr. Andolfo also. I was a little worried that he would have slowed down and lost his love for teaching after what must be close to 30 years of teaching. I had no worries after the first day and he came home to tell me about the funny old guy with the bowtie who bounced around the classroom and told history stories in funny voices. Because of Mr. Andolfo, my son got involved with Student Council, helped collect items for care packages for our soldiers in Iraq, collected food for the needy, wrote letters to the President, and yes, learned a heck of a lot about world geography.
I am proud to say that my son came away with the same lessons of patriotism, honesty, and community involvement that I did.
If you want to know what kind of person Mr. Andolfo is, you don't have to go far. He has 30(+?)years of students who will be glad to tell you of the impact he has had on their lives.
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