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Palm Beach Central principal reinstated after grade-changing investigation

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Darren Edgecomb was reinstated at Palm Beach Central High School on Friday after an investigation into a grade-changing scandal nears its conclusion, the school district announced.

Edgecomb was temporarily removed from the Wellington school in March and placed on alternative duty during the administrative review.

The school district anticipates the investigation of Edgecomb will end later this month, and specific information won't be released at this time.

Interim principal Eric Lundman has been named as the next principal of Independence Middle School in Jupiter.

"Mr. Lundman helped Palm Beach Central remain an ‘A’ rated school for the 2018-2019 school year," Keith Oswald, deputy superintendent and chief of schools, said in a statement. "I look forward to welcoming Principal Edgecomb, teachers, other staff members back to school for an extraordinary 2019-2020 school year."

Lundman previously served as an instructional superintendent for the district.

"I realize that this appointment comes just days before the start of school, but Mr. Lundman is ready to report to campus and work with you all to make the start of the school year a success," Dr. Joseph Lee, instructional superintendent of the North Region said in a statement.

In March, school board's inspector general concluded that Edgecomb and Assistant Principal Laurence “Larry” Greenberg violated school district policy by changing the grades without alerting teachers or Edgecomb’s supervisor between 2016 and 2018. The findings are not binding and district officials launched their own investigation in April.

Greenberg submitted the changed grades to Edgecomb, who signed off on them without consulting the teachers or the instructional. Greenberg said implying teachers supported the revision. Greenberg also allowed students to take the standardized AICE exams after the scheduled dates determined by the AICE testing protocols.

He remains on alternative duty and has not been cleared to return to the school pending completion of the investigation.