Termination Recommended For Far Rockaway Principal After Investigation

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The New York City Department of Education said in a published report Tuesday that it plans to go ahead with a recommendation to fire a Far Rockaway school principal, following a special investigator's report.

As CBS 2's Dave Carlin reported, the findings on a scandal-ridden principal were issued in a scathing report released Tuesday.

Marcella Sills of PS 106 is accused of a list of offenses, including allegedly asking staffers to falsify timecards to cover what is being called a long-standing habit of her chronic absences and leaving work on the sly.

The damning investigation was released Tuesday by City Schools Special Commissioner of Investigation Richard Condon.

"I'm sort of surprised that she got away with it for as long as she did," Condon told Carlin. "Her work style actually was just based on when she decided she was going to come to the school."

Condon has recommended to the schools chancellor that Sills' employment be terminated and that she be made ineligible for work with the Department of Education or as a DOE vendor.

In a published report in the New York Post, the Department of Education said it planned on executing SCI's recommendations. A DOE representative was not immediately available for comment.

According to Condon's 13-page report, Sills was supposed to be at PS 106 in Far Rockaway at about 7:30 a.m. each day but more than one staffer testified she routinely arrived as late as 11 a.m.

The report quotes school safety agent Bonita Holmes saying Sills was "late more often than not."

Also on numerous occasions, the report found Sills did not put in a full day of work.

In the report, Sills allegedly said to school aide Anna Pappas, "I cannot find my timecards. Could you make some up from September 2012 to present?"

"It is shocking behavior," said Condon.

Concerns about Principal Sills' attendance hit a fever pitch when CBS 2 covered a meeting last month of parents concerned about a lack of textbooks for their kids and a school dance with mandatory attire parents criticized as too expensive.

Condon explained why his office called for Sills' termination.

"The message is that if you're going to do this, sooner or later someone is going to find out about it," said Condon.

Also in the report, Sills' assistant principal is also in hot water for allegedly helping her, Carlin reported.

Some parents in Far Rockaway said Tuesday night that enough is enough.

"She should be fired," one parent said.

Condon said Sills has denied the charges detailed in the report. She and her union representative have not responded to requests for comment.

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