Handicapped State Ran School Awards fraudulent Grades.

Status
Not open for further replies.

techstudent

New Member
I attended a state ran handicapped school. I just recieved a letter from the state auditor generals office concerning allegations I placed against the school. I am enclosing this letter. Can I file a lawsuit? I and some classmates were awarded fraudulent grades.


Mr. William A. Gannon Executive Director
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Department of Labor and Industry 1521 North Sixth Street Harrisburg, P A 17102
Dear Mr. Gannon:
In December 2006, the Department of the Auditor General received a complaint from a former student of the Commonwealth Technical Institute/Hiram G. Andrews Center ("Center"). Specifically, the complainant questioned the use of "scrip" to pay students for work performed at the Center, and the fact that the Center produced two financial reports for the Student Organizational Fund for the year 2005 with differing characterizations of the scrip. The complainant also alleged that a teacher did not conduct the classes for a course he was teaching, yet granted credits to students for completion of the course.
The allegations were forwarded to the Department's Office of Special Investigations ("OSI") for review and investigation. The OSI investigation included interviewing the Director of the Center and the former student, and reviewing pertinent documents. The following is a summary of the investigative findings and our recommendations.
Students Paid with Scrip
Some students who donated their time at the Center were rewarded with scrip issued by the Student Organizational Fund. The scrip could be used to make purchases at the cafeteria and student store. Purchases made with scrip were paid from the Student Organizational Fund. Because the Student Organization Fund contains no state funds, we did not investigate its use of scrip in any detail. However, we do note that using scrip in lieu of paying wages or other regular compensation for services rendered by students could raise issues under tax and labor laws.







Mr. William A. Gannon December 12, 2007 Page 2
Recommendations: We recommend that you make a determination of the propriety of the use of scrip by the Center and take whatever further action you may deem appropriate. We are forwarding a copy of this letter to the Department's Bureau of State-Owned Performance Audits, which routinely audits the Center, with the recommendation that it perform a review of the use of scrip in the course of its next regularly scheduled audit of the Center. We are also forwarding a copy of this letter to the Labor, Education, and Community Services Comptroller of the Office of the Budget for its review and any action deemed appropriate.
Issuance of Two Financial Reports of the Student Organization Fund with Differing Characterizations of Scrip
The accountant for the Student Organization Fund produced two versions of a report titled Student Organization Fund Year End Report for the Period Ending December 31, 2005. In one version of the report, the scrip is identified and is shown as a reduction to sales income reported on the income statement and as an addition to capital through an adjusting entry on the balance sheet. In the second version of the report, the use of scrip is not shown.
According to the complainant, when he questioned the need for the two reports, someone explained that there are two reports because the Center uses one for internal use, and the other one is given to the auditors because the Center is not supposed to use scrip.
The Director of the Center contended that the problem was attributable to a new individual hired to maintain the Student Organization Fund's financial records. However, this contention is contradicted by the fact that the 2005 financial reports were prepared by the previous accountant.
Recommendations: We recommend that a single year-end financial report of the Student Organization Fund should be prepared by an accountant and that it should accurately and fairly represent the Fund's financial position, including the issuance and redemption of scrip, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Classes Not Held, Yet Credits Granted
According to the complainant, during the fall 2006 term, the Center improperly utilized handicapped students from the computer servicing program to help prepare and set-up for the Center's 50th anniversary celebration. As a result, the affected students missed more than 10 days of class. The complainant became especially concerned about missing the Intro to Internet class.



Mr. William A. Gannon December 12, 2007 Page 3
During a scheduled meeting between OSl and the Director of the Center, he contended that the complainant never contacted anyone from the administration or any instructors regarding his concerns.
However, the complainant stated that he and other students had met with an instructor to express their concerns. In that meeting, the instructor informed the students that the Center had decided not to have "class time" for the Intro to Internet class, and that the remaining class time for the Intro to Internet class would be used to get caught up on another class in the computer servicing curriculum (Fiber Optics) that was behind schedule. The complainant questioned the instructor on how the lost class time would affect his credits for graduation, and the instructor told him not to worry about it.
The complainant asserts that Center officials knowingly covered the lost class time and required credit hours of instruction for the Intro to Internet class by awarding unearned credits and grades, and the Director of the Center now claims that the class was an "independent study," i.e., a course that is self-taught outside of the classroom. According to the complainant, the Intro to Internet classes given both before and after the class he took were not conducted as independent studies.
When interviewed by OSl, the Director of the Center contended that the class in question was, in fact, an independent study and surmised that the complainant might not have understood that class attendance is not part of an independent study.
OSI's review of the course syllabus fails to support the Director's contention that the class in question was an independent study. The class syllabus specifically states that "because this is a skilled-development course, attendance is crucial." The syllabus further indicates that "the class will be taught using a workshop approach -- guided exercises." The foregoing statements in the course syllabus regarding attendance and the use of "guided exercises" contradict the Director's contention that the Intro to Internet class in question (Fall 2006) was an independent study class. His contention is further contradicted by the complainant's assertion that the class prior to his performed the guided exercises, and the class following his is now performing the guided exercises, and that his class was the only one that did not perform the guided exercises.
Recommendations: The complainant informed OSI that his concerns have been expressed to the Pennsylvania Department of Education in addition to your office. Therefore, a copy of this letter is being sent to both agencies for review and appropriate action on the following issues:

(1) Did the Center use handicapped students during regular scheduled class time to perform celebration-related work for the Center;

(2) Did the Center assign credits/grades to those same students, even though they had not met the necessary course and accreditation requirements; and



Mr. William A. Gannon December 12, 2007 Page 4
(3) Did the Center attempt to justify its actions by contending after the fact that the class was an independent study for which class attendance was not necessary.
We would greatly appreciate being advised of any determinations and/or actions taken by you so that we can follow up on them in this Department's next audit of the Center.
Cc: Donald R. Rullman, Director
Hiram G. Andrews Center
Coletta Railing, Audit Liaison Department of Labor and Industry Gerald Zahorchak, Secretary Department of Education
Connie Huber, Comptroller
Labor, Education and Community Services
 
Do a free consultation with a local lawyer to evaluate your options........hard to tell from your post.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top