ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 15, 1997 TAG: 9703170036
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FAIRFIELD, CONN.
Investigators say incorrect answers on standardized exams were erased and corrected.
The principal of one of America's most acclaimed elementary schools was forced into retirement Friday after being blamed for doctored students' test scores.
Roger Previs, principal of Stratfield School for 18 years, said he is innocent and agreed to retire to spare students, parents and teachers further turmoil.
``I didn't do anything. I'm not going to walk away with any cloud'' over my head, said Previs, who was paid $92,000 a year.
Previs, 57, was suspended last month after investigators found that incorrect answers on two standardized exams given to youngsters between 1993 and 1996 had been systematically erased and the correct answers filled in.
Under Previs' leadership, Stratfield consistently outscored other elementary schools. In 1987 and 1988, it won blue ribbons from the U.S. Education Department. In 1993, Redbook magazine listed it as one of the nation's best elementary schools.
The tampering allegations came up almost a year ago, when school administrators noticed an unusually high rate of erased answers.
-ASSOCIATED PRESS
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB