Daytona Beach, FL - The Volusia County school district says findings from an investigation into complaints that students enrolled in an AP Capstone Seminar course at Mainland High School did not participate in the three-part Advanced Placement exam offered by College Board, Inc. will be released in about two weeks.
Volusia County School Board Chair Carl Persis said the issue is being investigated internally, by the State of Florida and by the College Board Oversight Committee, who regulates the AP courses and AP testing. He said the results from all three investigations are in but interim School Superintendent Tim Egnor is just getting started in the position and will need some time to review.
A majority of Mainland's freshman class, 414 students, are enrolled in the AP Seminar course. The problem is that only 78 of them were given the official AP exam. The other 336 students were given a "placebo" test. Mainland's Principal, Cheryl Salerno told investigators she did not know that taking the official exam would give a student college credit. Persis said the real problem is how to resolve the issue for the students that did not receive college credit. The issue should be on the next VCSB agenda on July 22.
During VCSB's meeting yesterday, Board members approved the exit package for departing Volusia Schools Superintendent Tom Russell. Persis said that no changes were made to the exit agreement drawn up by the VCSB attorney. Because Russell was terminated before his contract was up, he's to receive 20 weeks of severance pay, $68,700. Other amounts include $122,000 for accrued leave, $44,000 in deferred compensation and $9,600 for a performance bonus, bringing the total to $244,300.
Also approved was the contract for interim School Superintendent Tim Egnor at the same daily rate as Russell was getting. Because Egnor is interim, the salary of $175,000 annually will be prorated for the time he will be employed. Persis said the Board is excited to have Egnor on staff and District Staff is happy to have him on board.
