Principal of School Where 12-Year-Old Drowned on Field Trip Fired

The principal of a Harlem school where a 12-year-old drowned on a class field trip to the beach got fired for allowing his parent coordinator to babysit his child for free, according to a report.

The city's Department of Education has already taken Jose Maldonado-Rivera's post away and is looking to terminate him permanently pending a review of a report released today by Special Schools Investigator Richard Condon, reports the Daily News.

Maldonado-Rivera had already been suspended for six months following Nicole Suriel's tragic death at a Long Island beach in June. Today's reports of his firing come roughly two months after Suriel's parents said they planned to sue the city and the school for $20 million.

Nicole was one of 24 students from Harlem's Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering on the outing to Long Beach.

The Department of Education found that parents never signed permission slips for the trip and the teacher apparently did not notice signs that said "No lifeguard on duty.''

"Looking at the full history of Dr. Maldonado's conduct, we have determined that his repeated failures in judgment make it inappropriate for him to continue as principal," Education Department press secretary Natalie Ravitz told the News.

Maldonado-Rivera first hired Monica Marin-Reyes as the Columbia Secondary School's parent coordinator about two years ago. Marin-Eyes then babysat for Maldonado-Rivera's son and watched the child for free during a school trip the principal led to Puerto Rico. She was also allowed to live rent-free in his apartment when other tenants had to pay, according to the News.

Assistant principal Gary Beister will take over the post until officials determine a permanent replacement.
 

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