Principal changes grade prompting union grievance

PORTLAND — The Deering High School principal recently changed a student’s “F” to a passing grade, prompting a hearing later this week on a teachers’ union grievance to resolve who should determine grades.

Principal Paul Pendleton and the president of the Portland Teachers Association, Ursula Slavick, said the grievance focuses on questions of what grades mean and who should set them.

Pendleton confirmed that by changing the student’s grade he enabled the boy to remain eligible for the wrestling team, but he said that was not why the grade had been changed.

“The issue with the wrestling team had nothing to do it,” he said.

The student’s grade was changed from a failing 61 to a passing 70, and while Slavick would not speculate on Pendleton’s motive, she wondered whether he would have done it for a non-athlete.

Students who fail a course in the Portland school system cannot participate in sports or other extracurricular activities.

Pendleton declined to say why he changed the grade. He and Slavick said the name of the student and other details must remain confidential because it is the subject of a pending grievance.