A Long Island high school principal has been placed on leave following an audit that found he allegedly used student activity funds for lavish personal expenses, according to district officials.
Paul Sibblies, longtime principal of Wyandanch Memorial High School, was removed from his position and replaced by Assistant Principal Noel Rios, according to a letter sent to parents by Superintendent Erik Wright.
The district did not specify the exact reason for Sibblies’ leave, citing it as a personnel matter. However, the move follows a February audit conducted by Island-based accounting firm R.S. Abrams & Co. that detailed what auditors described as “questionable” reimbursements from student club funds.
According to the audit, Sibblies reimbursed himself more than 40 times between July 2021 and November 2024, totaling over $35,500. The funds came from the school’s Kappa Club account, which was intended to support after-school mentoring and student activities.
Auditors reported that expenditures included steak-and-lobster dinners, staff parties featuring open bars, and a charge labeled “Ski Rental — Bermuda Trip.” The report found that these expenses did not align with New York State Education Department guidelines governing extracurricular activity funds.
“We were unable to determine the appropriateness of employee reimbursements issued to the Kappa Club’s faculty advisor, who also serves as the High School Principal,” auditors wrote in their findings. “We identified questionable expenditures within the extracurricular activity fund that do not appear to be directly related to club activities.”
The audit further found that Sibblies oversaw the club’s finances, handled cash, approved disbursements, and signed off on checks made out to himself. Auditors noted that reimbursements were issued without independent review, aside from the club treasurer, who also served as his clerical secretary.
In addition to the reimbursements, auditors cited hundreds of thousands of dollars in poorly documented donations connected to the Kappa Club and a middle school club. The report pointed to missing records, vague descriptions, and a lack of documentation detailing how funds were collected, tracked, or spent.
In a letter to parents, Wright said the district remains focused on maintaining “a safe, supportive, and stable learning environment for all students,” adding that no further details could be shared due to the personnel nature of the matter.
The district has retained outside counsel and continues to investigate. It is unclear whether Sibblies’ leave is paid or unpaid.
Credit:New York Post
