Glen Cove replaces principal; questions over lost cash

A Glen Cove elementary school principal, Julio V. Delgado, has been abruptly replaced after 31/2 years on the job.

School district officials described the administrative switch Tuesday at Deasy Elementary School as a personnel matter they could not legally comment on, but said that a longtime administrator and teacher, Joseph Hinton, would serve as acting principal for the rest of the year.

In a letter to parents, Hinton said Delgado had "some serious personal problems" and could not continue.

Last week, Delgado reported he had lost $200 in parent donations earmarked to buy gift cards for the needy, according to Glen Cove City police who were asked by the district to investigate. Police added that the principal had returned to the district another $800 collected last year for a kindergarten class trip but never used, because the trip was rained out.

Police said the probe followed parents' demands that the district account for the kindergarten trip money, after parents were asked to contribute to another trip. The district's superintendent, Laurence Aronstein, said through a spokesman Wednesday that the recovered $800 would be used later this year for a class trip to a theatrical production at Hofstra University.

Lt. Thomas Fitzpatrick, a police spokesman, said his department closed the case after questioning Delgado last week. Delgado could not be reached for comment.