WOODBRIDGE -- A township elementary school principal encouraged cheating during state standardized testing in 2010 and 2011, according to the New Jersey Department of Education.

Cathie Bedosky, principal at Ford Avenue School 14, was suspended with pay by vote of the district board at its meeting Thursday night.

The state's investigation alleges that during the 2010 and 2011 NJ ASK examinations, Bedosky encouraged test examiners and proctors to interfere with the independent work of students taking the assessment, failed to properly train examiners and utilized unqualified staff to fulfill test examiner positions.

According to the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance report, officials began investigating Bedosky's coordination of the tests in 2011. The investigation was initiated after an analysis of the 2010 and 2011 NJ-ASK tests showed excessive wrong-to-right markings in erasure patterns, the report states.

State officials also conducted 47 interviews of school staff members, students and parents as part of the investigation. (See full report below)

According to state's official report:

Several teachers said Bedosky, who trained several school staffers tasked as test proctors, allegedly encouraged "active monitoring" and "active proctoring," which involved test monitors alerting students of incorrect test answers by tapping on their desks.

During test training sessions, Bedosky allegedly told staffers that the "active monitoring" concept originated with former district assistant Lois Rotella, who resigned in the wake of a

As test coordinator, Bedosky allegedly failed to ensure proper training of test proctors. Multiple staffers who ultimately served in those roles during the testing did not attend training, the report states.

Bedosky allegedly did not ensure the security of the testing materials, forging the name of one test examiner to indicate that they had personally received a testing booklet.

In 2010 and 2011, Bedosky allegedly issued testing materials to test examiners nearly an hour before the scheduled start time of the examinations. Investigators also found that students' tests were returned late during each day of testing, with overages ranging from 20 to 35 minutes in 2011 to 77 minutes in 2010, the report states.

Staffers interviewed by state officials expressed concern over comments made to them by the principal following the start of the investigation. Some staffers told investigators Bedosky provided "comments, suggestions, or information to staff members before their interviews." One school staffer told investigators that prior to their interview, Bedosky asked about their intended responses, saying: "Because I want you to remember, Dara denied everything and Dara's the one who still has a job."

Bedosky could not immediately be reached for comment. According to the report, she confirmed to investigators that she attended a meeting where Rotella spoke about "active monitoring," but denied encouraging the staff to adopt the practice. She also denied threatening staffers, the report states.

Bedosky, who was employed by Woodbridge Township Schools for 25 years, submitted her retirement earlier this week, which was approved by the district board of education at its Thursday night meeting. According to state records, Bedosky makes $142,856.

The district will conduct its own internal investigation into the allegations, district officials said. Superintendent Robert Zega declined to comment on the investigation.

The report comes on the heels of the arrest of longtime district business administrator Dennis DeMarino. On Feb. 18, DeMarino, 46, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance after Woodbridge police officers allegedly observed him purchase cocaine from a man suspected of dealing the drug throughout the township.

DeMarino has since been suspended with pay. The board of education unanimously approved board secretary Brian Wolferman as DeMarino's interim replacement at Thursday's meeting.

Previous investigations by DOE Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance have implicated other township elementary teachers in testing scandals. In 2012, five Woodbridge administrators were accused by state investigators of cheating, or encouraging students to cheat on state standardized tests.



John Radzik, a third-grade teacher at Avenel Street Elementary School, was one of five district administrators -- two elementary school principals and three teachers -- who were suspended in the wake of the report's release.

According to Department of Education investigators, Radzik and others encouraged students to cheat on the NJ ASK standardized test during the 2010-2011 school year by showing students correct answers to questions. He also gave students extra time to finish the tests, said the report.

Radzik was later dismissed by the district. Former Woodbridge Superintendent John Crowe resigned in the wake of the charges, as did former assistant district superintendent Lois Rotella.

State law requires that school district employees are suspended with pay, except where the individuals suspended are indicted or facing tenure charges.

According to an addendum to the board's meeting agenda, Bedosky's retirement becomes effective on June 30.

&lt;a href="http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1690201/ford-avenue-school-ofac-report.pdf"&gt;Ford Avenue School OFAC Report (PDF)&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;a href="http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1690201/ford-avenue-school-ofac-report.txt"&gt;Ford Avenue School OFAC Report (Text)&lt;/a&gt;

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.