New principal at Minneapolis Washburn High School put on leave amid test tampering allegations

August 7, 2013 at 10:35PM

MINNEAPOLIS — A newly hired principal at Washburn High School in Minneapolis is already on leave amid allegations that he tampered with state assessment tests.

Minneapolis school officials say Patrick Exner is on administrative leave while the district investigates allegations that surfaced this week. An anonymous email to state and district officials claimed he altered exam answers for three students while working at a charter school in Hopkins.

District spokesman Stan Alleyne says the claims are just allegations and are not assumed to be true, but the district will do its due diligence.

Exner declined to comment, referring questions to the district.

Exner came to Washburn after the reassignment of principal Carol Markham-Cousins in April. She was moved after several high profile incidents that district officials claimed were a distraction for students.

about the writer

about the writer

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.