Is it a crime for a school secretary to sabotage grades on a transcript? If so, how serious is it?

Question

A friend of mine has a daughter in highschool. She gets mostly A's & B's on her report card and always makes the honor roll. She recently needed a copy of her transcript and noticed that classes she knew she had all A's and B's in on her report card, had a "C" average for the year on the transcript. After going over grades on report cards and previous transcripts, she discovered that many grades had been changed, (lowered, never raised) which significantly lowered her class rank. When this was brought to the schools attention, grades were corrected on the transcript, but all the school did was make excuses for the secretary who had changed the grades, saying it had to have been an honest mistake. The grades were not changed on the report cards, only after they were entered on the transcript, so it didn't make sense? This girl is the secretary's neice. My friend thinks the secretary (her own sister) sabotaged her daughter's grades on purpose becayse they have never gotten along?????????

Answer 1

Yes. She knowingly commited fraud to harm someone. She could also get sued for damages. In most civil trials, you need documentation. In this case however, you reasonably have all the proof you could get. The report card. I strongly suggest your friend find a civil attorney. The attorney hopefully can request trasncripts to see what other mistakes where made, or at least get testimoney of what other mistakes where made. Hypothetically if no other mistakes where made, aside from lowering the grades of the niece, of which family she has a personal grudge with, then you definitely would have something. Also you have to take what the principal has to say with a grain of salt. He would have something to loose by getting information like this public.

Answer 2

Very serious. She can be charged criminally and sued civilly. The school board could also be sued. If you report her to the principal and the school board she should lose her job if what you say is true. Who ever you initially reported this to is also guilt of neglect so report her also. Make sure the principal and school board knows the relationship of the woman to the victim. Don't give up. Call a reporter and get some press for it. That always gets action from reluctant public officials.