Paradise Valley Superintendent Placed on Leave Amid Grade Inflation Allegations

The Paradise Valley Unified School District unanimously voted to place newly hired superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings on paid administrative leave months after he began on July 1. The board gave no public reason for the action but said it reviewed unspecified complaints and consulted legal counsel, naming Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dan Courson as interim. The move follows ongoing investigations and reporting about Cummings’ prior tenure as superintendent of South Bend Community School Corporation in Indiana, where auditors and an investigator found evidence suggesting possible grade manipulation and that about one in four grades showed signs of alteration. Cummings was hired in Arizona while still on leave in South Bend and has denied any knowledge of or role in improper grade changes, saying credit recovery was handled with principals and teachers. His Paradise Valley contract lists a $230,000 base salary through June 30, 2027, and the situation has raised questions from parents and reporters about the district’s vetting and hiring process. Investigations in South Bend remain ongoing and the Paradise Valley district has not publicly detailed the specific reasons for Cummings’ leave.