City May Reopen Investigation Of Harlem Student's Drowning
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The city’s investigation into last month's drowning of Harlem student during a field trip to a Long Island beach may be reopened.
The special commissioner of investigation presented his findings on the drowning of 12-year-old Nicole Suriel on Wednesday, but teachers at the school questioned whether the investigation into the principal’s involvement had been thorough.
Department of Education officials said on Friday they received additional information expressing concerns about the Columbia Secondary School.
Investigators said they are reviewing the information and will decide whether to reopen the case.
Principal Jose Maldonado-Rivera was granted tenure on July 1, days after the drowning.
In Wednesday’s report, Maldonado-Rivera took ultimate responsibility for the field trip, but the DOE disciplined him by just removing his new tenure status. In two years, the principal would be able to qualify again.
When asked why Maldonado-Rivera was granted tenure before the investigation was complete, DOE officials said the tenure status of Maldonado-Rivera had not been their primary focus in the days after Suriel's death.
The Department of Education fired Erin Bailey, Suriel's teacher, who did not have tenure, and demoted the school's assistant principal.
The investigation found the school officials did not distribute proper permission slips, provide adequate supervision or realize the danger of letting students swim with no lifeguards on duty.