Wyandanch Memorial High School principal Paul Sibblies placed on leave
Wyandanch Memorial High School Principal Paul Sibblies has been placed on leave. Credit: Newsday / Steve Pfost
Wyandanch's longtime high school principal has been placed on leave, about a month after an audit report that found the educator improperly used money for a student club was made public.
Superintendent Erik Wright said in a letter to the community Wednesday that Principal Paul Sibblies’ reassignment was effective immediately. Assistant Principal Noel Rios will serve as acting principal and school activities will continue as usual, Wright said.
“Please know that this decision was made following careful consideration, and the district remains focused on maintaining a safe, supportive, and stable learning environment for all students,” Wright wrote.
The district’s announcement did not say why Sibblies was being placed on leave, noting it was a personnel matter. Officials declined to comment further Thursday.
Sibblies, whose salary was $200,385 in 2024-25, has been principal of Wyandanch Memorial High School since 2009. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
The principal has been placed on leave before. In 2021, he was reassigned over reportedly breaking up a fight between two students. He was reinstated a month later following an internal investigation.
The audit report released last month, which was completed in February 2025, said Sibblies used money meant for a student club to pay for a $126 steak and lobster dinner at a restaurant in Delaware, buy gifts for teachers and purchase equipment for the high school.
As the faculty adviser for the Kappa League, a youth service initiative of the fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, the auditors found Sibblies handled cash and signed off on checks for club activities, including reimbursements to himself, without independent review.
The club was not approved by the school board and was closed last spring.
Sibblies has said the dinner was "school related" but declined to answer further questions on the audit's findings.
Student walkout
A recent student walkout, held the Friday before winter break started, put Wyandanch high school students at odds with the district's administration.
Scores of teenagers walked out of the high school on Feb. 13 to demand Wright and other central office administrators release funding for the seniors’ planned trip in May.
The walkout was organized by student government leaders, who said many seniors had paid a $300 fee for their prom, caps and gowns. Some had paid $1,500 each to attend the senior trip to Florida.
The students expressed concern that the administration had not yet released the funding needed to book the trip.
Wright said in a statement at the time that, “Senior experiences are still currently set to proceed, and the district is working with families to ensure the remaining funding is collected and final payments are made for the trip.”
Students were safely escorted back into the high school building and were at no time in danger during the walkout, Wright said. He noted students “were respectful throughout the process and demonstrated maturity while expressing their perspectives.”
Check back for updates on this developing story.
Dandan Zou covers education for Newsday. Previously, she worked for a community newspaper in Maryland and a personal finance magazine in Washington, D.C.
