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Former CCS Administrator Pleads No Contest In Data-Rigging Scandal

Columbus City Schools

A former Columbus City Schools administrator has pleaded no contest to multiple charges filed in the wake of  the district's attendance data rigging scandal.  

Michael Dodds, a former district regional director, entered the plea this morning in Franklin Count Common Pleas court this morning to one count of attempted tampering with government records, a fourth degree felony, and two counts of unauthorized use of property, a fifth degree felony. 

According to an investigation by State Auditor David Yost, Dodds falsely reported students with low test scores had withdrawn from the district, inflating school and district performance on the state report card.  Former district data chief Steve Tankovich and former Marion Franklin High School principal Stanley Pyle were earlier each convicted on a felony charge of attempted tampering with government records, and former Superintendent Gene Harris was convicted of dereliction of duty in the scandal, which prompted a re-evaluation of school test scores, and prompted the recall of thousands of dollars given in bonuses to administrators and teachers.  

Dodds was suspended with pay in the summer of 2012 as news of the data-rigging scandal broke, and retired in 2013.  He faces a maximum of 42 months in prison, however, there is a recommendation of 14 days in jail and community control.   Dodds will be sentenced August 27th.  

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
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