FAQ Regarding Events of June 2007
OVERVIEW: Over the past several weeks, the news media have reported extensively on the alleged criminal trespass at Hanover High School that resulted in the theft of final examinations that were, in turn, used by several students to cheat on those examinations. While the news reports have been generally accurate, the Dresden School Board and administration wanted to provide a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the events that occurred last June, the subsequent criminal investigation by the Hanover Police, the ongoing investigation by the Hanover High School administration, and the various media reports on all of these activities.
ORGANIZATION OF FAQs:These FAQs are organized into three sections: the Police/Criminal Investigation and Consequences; the School Investigation and Consequences; and the Media Reports.
LINKS OF INTEREST: Note that many of the FAQ responses include links to documents referenced in the text for readers who wish to retrieve and read policy documents, handbook excerpts, and source material from the school. Please be advised that we have not and will not disclose any student specific information or any information discussed in our offices despite the news media’s willingness to print such information.
NEW INFORMATION: Because there are often new developments to report regarding this incident, readers are advised to check back periodically for updates. If YOU have any questions about these events, please email them to wayne.gersen@hotmail.com and enter the phrase “FAQs” in the subject box.
Police/Criminal Investigation and Consequences
Q: Why were the police involved in the incidents in June?
A: Over the course of the last few weeks the 2006-07 school year, the high school administration notified the police of an act of vandalism at the school, the cutting of screens (in an apparent effort to enter the school at the back of the building), the loss of two sets of faculty keys, the Sunday entry of the building through a window by three students, and a student accessing a filing cabinet in an unauthorized area of the building. Each of these events was reported to the police in a timely manner after they occurred. On the final day of school, when the administration learned that a group of students had allegedly broken into the building to steal final examinations, they reported the intrusions to the police and requested that they investigate the burglary. These reports were made in response to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Hanover Police and the Dresden School district, a protocol that was developed in response to the federal Safe Schools Act and subsequently incorporated into Dresden School Board Policy JGDA. This Memorandum of Understanding requires school administrators to report burglary, which is defined as “… the unlawful entry of a building for the purpose of committing a crime such as vandalism, theft, arson or assault”, to the police department.
Q: Why didn’t the administration pursue the cheating allegations immediately?
A: In order to conduct a thorough investigation, the Hanover Police requested that the high school administration suspend their internal cheating investigation until they concluded their review of the alleged burglary. On a practical level, internal investigation by the school would have been challenging since the allegations were not brought to the administration’s attention until the final day of the school year.
Q: What role did the administration play in the criminal investigation?
A: None. The Hanover Police Force conducted the criminal investigation. As part of the investigation the police interviewed teachers who were eyewitnesses to students who were sighted in the building while school was closed and teachers whose examinations were stolen.
Q: What role did the administration play in the determination of the charges?
A: None. The Hanover Police Department and Prosecutor determine the charges to be brought against the students.
Q: What is the relationship between the police and the school regarding cheating?
A: The school administration has not, did not and will not call the police to investigate cheating incidents.
Q: What information did the police share with the school regarding cheating?
A: The police report provided a list of students who were mentioned by name by witnesses who were interviewed by the police. While the listing of a student’s name in the police report does not mean the student is accused of cheating, the information in the police report will be used by the administration as part of its internal investigation.
School Investigation and Consequences
Q: What is the school penalty for stealing?
A: The High School Handbook calls for up to three-days suspension for stealing. During the suspension, students are prohibited from participating in extra-curricular activities and not allowed on campus for any purposes. Upon return from this suspension, the students are not allowed to leave campus for fifteen school days.
Q: What is the school penalty for cheating?
A: The Hanover High Student Handbook has an Academic Cheating Policy that has been in effect since 1985. The policy defines cheating as “…participation in any activity, including plagiarism, in which a student knowingly misrepresents or assists another student to misrepresent his her achievement in any course.” The policy also notes: “Students caught in the act of cheating before the act has been completed will also be thought of as cheating”. In the first instance of cheating the student receives a zero for the work involved and a loss of open campus privileges for three weeks. The second cheating offense in a student’s high school career results in a zero for the quarter for the course in which the cheating occurred and a loss of open campus privileges for five weeks.
Q: What will be the penalty if a student is found to have both stolen and cheated?
A: Each transgression would incur its own penalty.
Q: Given the seriousness of this incident, why isn’t this being defined as “gross misconduct” which would allow a more severe penalty?
A: Given our past practice in dealing with incidents of stealing, the administration felt that the standard penalty for stealing--- a three-day suspension--- was appropriate.
Q: Does the high school notify prospective colleges of cheating?
A: There is no explicit notation regarding cheating on Hanover High School’s Mid-year Report that is included in college application packets. The Mid-Year Report does include a rating scale for “Personal Qualities and Character” and a checklist that asks the counselors to recommend students on a scale that ranges from recommending “with reservation” to “enthusiastically”. These rating scales provide a means for the school to differentiate between students who have no record of academic dishonesty from those whose honesty might be questionable. Finally, if a counselor writes a college recommendation for a student, the counselor is ethically bound to address administratively documented incidents of academic dishonesty, which occurred during the student’s high school career.
Q: Does the High School have an Honor Code?
A: Yes. The Academic Honor Code enacted by the Council in December 2004 requires each student to rely on his/her own work as it reflects his/her ability. It is not a traditional honor code in that it does not require students to report others’ acts of cheating. There is also an Athletic Code of Conduct which also does not require that students report violations.
Q: Why are the students charged with criminal trespass allowed to play on the athletic teams?
A: For many years the Dresden Athletic Department has held that the Athletic Code of Conduct applies to behavior during a given sports season. The Athletic Director and a majority of the Board believe that a consistent interpretation of the rules is most appropriate, and is therefore following past practice in not imposing restrictions during the current season. If students are deemed guilty, at the school level, of the stealing of examinations, they would be suspended from school, which might result in their missing one game if the suspension occurs during an athletic season.
Media Reports
Q: Did the high school administration report this incident to the news media?
A: No. Neither the Hanover High School administration nor the Hanover Police Department reported the investigation to the news media. In the final June email to parents, High School Principal Deb Gillespie included an important message from Dean of Students Ron Eberhardt to parents of 2006-07 Juniors, reporting that “…a number of students were involved in stealing, reproducing, and/or receiving” final examinations in two courses. This may have been the source of the Valley News’ inquiries in the summer.
Q: Will all of the publicity about the cheating hurt seniors who are currently applying for college?
A: The high school guidance department contacted admissions officers at several colleges that covered a broad range of selectivity. Most of the admissions officers were not aware of the incident. All of them said that a student with a good resume and with good recommendations would not be penalized because of a cheating incident at their school. The admissions offices will look at each student, their abilities, and the quality of their resume.
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