WFAA-TV

Some say improper grade changing is more widespread at DISD than previously reported.

DALLAS - Special investigators at DISD have begun their inquiry into allegations of cheating at South Oak Cliff High School.

Questions were first raised by a News 8 Investigation into grade changes affecting a star basketball player on the 2006 State Championship team.

Yesterday, there were new allegations that improper grade changing is more widespread at DISD than previously reported.

Student records obtained by News 8 show how a coach and a principal helped an academically ineligible student to help lead his team to a state basketball championship.

Now a teacher has come forward saying he discussed the athlete's ineligibility with his head coach and his principal at the time, Principal Donald Moten.

According to a written statement from the teacher: "Mr. Moten told me this kid had to receive a passing grade for the sake of the school."

According to teachers' union representative, Dale Kaiser, it's not uncommon for teachers all over DISD to complain about being pressured to change grades.

"It has gone on and is going on in other places than just South Oak Cliff," he said.

"And they get pressured from the coaches and also they get called in by the principal and they get a little note in their box that says: 'see me,'" he added.

Kaiser says it's not just athletes.

Teachers feel the heat to change grades of any student participating in extra-curricular activities.

So why don't we hear more about it?

"If they rock the boat or stir things up a little bit too much then life is made miserable for them at that campus," Kaiser said.

But DISD officials say things are changing.

They have created a new Office of Professional Responsibility.

Its mission, to investigate allegations such as cheating and work to maintain the public's trust and provide teachers with protection from retribution.

"We've set up an 1800 number that's staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and all callers can remain anonymous so that's the first thing. They can send us e-mails, they can write us," said a DISD spokesperson.

The hope, that an aggressive new approach to accountability will help make scandal at DISD a thing of the past.

E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com.