School Principal Fired Over Alleged Nanny Relationship
NEW YORK (CBS 2/AP) -- The principal of a Harlem school attended by a little girl who drowned on a school field trip was out of a job Wednesday.
Dr. Jose Maldonado-Rivera has been fired as principal of Columbia Secondary School but not directly as a result of last summer's tragic trip to Long Beach.
The Department of Education said Maldonado-Rivera violated conflict of interest rules by hiring his baby sitter as school parent coordinator and then giving her free lodging.
They say the baby sitter escorted Maldonado-Rivera's son on several summer-school trips to Puerto Rico at no charge.
Maldonado-Rivera told the New York Post he didn't think there was a conflict of interest because there was no exchange of money. He says he takes full responsibility for his mistake but believes his punishment is excessive.
Maldonado-Rivera lost his tenure rights following the drowning death of 12-year-old Nicole Suriel.
