• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Advertising
  • Disclosure
  • Newsletter
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Sebastian Daily
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Food
    • Health
    • Fishing
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Newsletter
    • Schools
    • Traffic
    • Videos
  • Events
  • Calendar
  • Awards
    • Best Bars in Sebastian
    • Best Diners in Sebastian, Florida
    • Best Music in Sebastian
    • Best Pizza in Sebastian
    • Best Pubs in Sebastian
    • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
    • Best Wings in Sebastian
  • Fishing
  • Inspections
  • Obituaries
  • Weather
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Food
    • Health
    • Fishing
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Newsletter
    • Schools
    • Traffic
    • Videos
  • Events
  • Calendar
  • Awards
    • Best Bars in Sebastian
    • Best Diners in Sebastian, Florida
    • Best Music in Sebastian
    • Best Pizza in Sebastian
    • Best Pubs in Sebastian
    • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
    • Best Wings in Sebastian
  • Fishing
  • Inspections
  • Obituaries
  • Weather
No Result
View All Result
Sebastian Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home Schools

Vero Beach High School Teacher Exonerated in Test-Tampering Case

Andy Hodges by Andy Hodges
Jun 5, 2018 / 3:51 PM
A A
Ralph Vaughn cleared in all charges in test-tampering case at Vero Beach High School.

Ralph Vaughn cleared in all charges in test-tampering case at Vero Beach High School.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

VERO BEACH – In the spring of 2017, Indian River County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell accused Ralph Vaughn of violating testing protocols, School Board policies, the State of Florida’s Principles of Professional Conduct for educators and state law, and terminated him from his position as a business education teacher at Vero Beach High School.

The termination was later reduced to a five-day suspension without pay.

The disciplinary actions followed revelations that Certiport, the vendor with whom the district contracts to offer industry certification examinations to students, had invalidated the test results of several hundred students at VBHS due to violations of its examination security protocols.

The district, in turn, blamed Vaughn, claiming that Vaughn had invented and carried out the practices in an attempt at fraud, claiming that he would be unjustly enriched through performance raises and bonuses by his students’ illegitimately enhanced exam results.

Vaughn freely admitted to his conduct, but consistently asserted his belief that it was authorized by both the district and by Certiport, and that he never had any intent to commit fraud or unjustly enrich himself. Through his union, the Indian River County Education Association, he filed a grievance against the discipline he received.

Vaughn had his day in court on Nov. 15, 2017, when Harold Smith, a neutral arbitrator hired by the parties to resolve the dispute, conducted a hearing.

On Tuesday, Smith’s decision was issued to the parties, clearing Vaughn of all charges and overturning the discipline issued against him by the district.

“These charges, that Vaughn implemented the testing procedures to enrich himself, are not supported by facts,” according to Mr. Smith.

“The charges are based on suspicion … the lack of due process, and a less than thorough investigation indicates that the School Board decided early on that Vaughn acted to enrich himself … the evidence supports the Union’s argument that the School Board should have known about the testing procedures used by Vaughn in administering the test in question. Vaughn never attempted to hide or cover up the testing procedures … The Grievance is granted. The School Board did not have just cause to suspend the Grievant.”

Graham Picklesimer, an arbitration advocate from the Florida Education Association, the statewide K-20 education employee union with which the Indian River County Education Association is affiliated, represented Vaughn at the Nov. 15 hearing.

Picklesimer applauded Smith’s decision. “It was clear from the outset that this was a situation where the district screwed up and was scrambling to find a scapegoat. There was never any evidence in support of the district’s accusations against Ralph, which the arbitrator immediately understood.”

More: Two Vero Beach High School Teachers Help Students Cheat Tests

Liz Cannon, President of the Indian River County Education Association, wondered whether the hasty and sloppy work by the district and Certiport was what really harmed students.

“If the district had done a more thorough investigation, maybe they could have reversed the decision to invalidate students’ certifications,” Cannon said. “Their efforts to cast blame demonstrate a lack of concern for students. Certiport’s lack of training is really at the heart of the issue here, so they should take some responsibility in all of this as well.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mar 25
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Freedom 5K Run/Walk

Mar 25
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

CatFest 2023

Mar 25
10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Art by the River at Riverview Park

View Calendar
Previous Post

Vero Beach Man Accused of Molesting 4-Year-Old Girl

Next Post

Man found sleeping inside AutoZone truck in Vero Beach

Next Post
Man found asleep in AutoZone truck in Vero Beach.

Man found sleeping inside AutoZone truck in Vero Beach

MORE FROM SEBASTIAN DAILY

Florida Manatee

FWC says “Go slow and look out below – manatees are on the move”

by Sebastian Daily
March 23, 2023

...

Sebastian Inlet

FWC Boating Cases Near Sebastian Inlet for March 10 through March 16, 2023

by Andy Hodges
March 22, 2023

...

U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety (Credit: USCG)

Boating Safety Training in Sebastian by the U.S. Coast Guard

by Andy Hodges
March 23, 2023

...

Take 5 Express Car Wash

Sebastian City Council approves Take 5 Express Car Wash next to Walmart

by Andy Hodges
March 24, 2023

...

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mar 25
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Freedom 5K Run/Walk

Mar 25
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

CatFest 2023

Mar 25
10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Art by the River at Riverview Park

Mar 25
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Mash Monkey’s Brewing Co. 5-Year Anniversary Party

Mar 25
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Roy and Mary Garton’s Book Signing in Sebastian

View Calendar
Sebastian Daily

Trusted news in Indian River County and Sebastian, Florida. Sebastian Daily offers hometown news, reviews, obituaries, weather, and hurricane updates.

Follow Us on Social Media

Mailing Address

Sebastian Daily, LLC
1603 U.S. Highway 1
Suite 102
Sebastian, Florida 32958

For advertising services or to post an obituary, please call Tina at 772-925-5221.

Categories

  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Events
  • Health
  • Inlet
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Obituaries
  • Restaurants
  • Schools
  • Traffic
  • Videos
  • Weather
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • Disclosure

© 2023 Sebastian Daily. All Rights Reserved. Sebastian Daily® is a registered trademark of Sebastian Daily, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Food
    • Health
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Traffic
    • Videos
  • Events
  • Calendar
  • Awards
    • Best Bars in Sebastian
    • Best Diners in Sebastian
    • Best Music in Sebastian
    • Best Pizza in Sebastian
    • Best Pubs in Sebastian
    • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
    • Best Wings in Sebastian
  • Fishing
  • Inspections
  • Obituaries
  • Schools
  • Weather
  • Newsletter

© 2023 Sebastian Daily. All Rights Reserved. Sebastian Daily® is a registered trademark of Sebastian Daily, LLC.