Hearing Officer Finds Peekskill Teacher Guilty of All Charges

Peekskill City School District officials report that teacher Allison Risoli has been found guilty of all four disciplinary charges brought against her by the district, in a case that focused on allegations that she changed the answers on Regents exams of two individual students in 2013.

“A hearing officer made his Findings of Fact in a Decision dated August 8. The penalty imposed upon Ms. Risoli is a fine in the amount of a half-year salary ($62,293.50). Under the hearing officer’s determination, she is permitted to return to work for the 2014-15 school year; however, the District has been informed that the criminal matter against Ms. Risoli is still pending. Further, the District previously reported these allegations to the New York State Department of Education, as required by law, and the District will continue to cooperate with the Department of Education as necessary.

“’We believe that justice has been served. This Decision validates the District’s course of action given the evidence indicating that Ms. Risoli was guilty of compromising the integrity of her role as a teacher when she improperly changed answers on Regents exams,” said Mr. Douglas Glickert, President of the Board of Education, in a written statement. “The Board of Education respects the 3020A process, the hearing officer’s decision and awaits the outcome of the other pending matters.”’