A Long Island high school principal repeatedly used student club funds to pay for steak-and-lobster dinners, alcohol-fueled staff parties, and jet-ski rentals, according to a newly released audit that raised serious concerns about financial oversight and internal controls within the school district, as reported by The New York Post.

The audit focused on Wyandanch Memorial High School, where longtime principal Paul Sibblies has served since 2009.

Extra credit Principal uses student funds for steak-and-lobster dinners, booze, jet-ski rentals: audithttps://t.co/d5FgZemqKS

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Investigators found that Sibblies reimbursed himself thousands of dollars from student activity accounts for what auditors described as “questionable” expenses, including meals with alcohol and recreational travel costs that were unrelated to student programs.

The financial review was conducted by the school district and the Long Island-based accounting firm R.S. Abrams & Co. and was released last week.

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According to the audit, the funds were taken from the school’s Kappa Club account, which was intended to support after-school activities, student trips, and a youth mentoring initiative.

“This lack of additional outside oversight raises significant concerns regarding financial accountability and internal controls,” the audit stated.

Auditors identified numerous expenses charged to the account under vague or misleading descriptions. Events labeled “End of Year Party” and “Staff Faculty Party” were held at local restaurants and included open bars.

Other reimbursements were listed as “Jet Ski Rental — Bermuda Trip” and “EOY Academic Success,” the latter covering a steak-and-lobster dinner for two in Delaware that included alcohol.

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The audit found that these expenditures did not align with New York State Education Department guidelines governing the use of extracurricular activity funds.

Between July 2021 and November 2024, Sibblies received more than 40 reimbursements totaling over $35,500 from the Kappa Club account.

Auditors noted that the club itself was never formally recognized or approved by the school board, despite being under Sibblies’ control.

“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.

“We identified questionable expenditures within the extracurricular activity fund that do not appear to be directly related to club activities.”

The audit also found that Sibblies handled the club’s cash, approved all disbursements, and signed checks made out to himself.

Those checks were issued without independent review or approval from other district employees, aside from the club’s treasurer, who also served as Sibblies’ clerical secretary.

Beyond the reimbursements, auditors cited hundreds of thousands of dollars in poorly documented donations tied to the Kappa Club and another middle school club.

The report pointed to missing records, vague descriptions, and a lack of documentation showing how the funds were collected, tracked, or spent.

District officials said the audit was completed in February of last year but was not publicly released until this week.

In response, the school board voted nearly unanimously in November to hire outside legal counsel to further investigate the financial issues outlined in the report. That investigation remains ongoing.

“The district is continually reviewing policies and protocols, and we have begun implementing strengthened financial oversight measures,” Wyandanch Superintendent Dr. Erik Wright said in a statement.

“As this is a matter of personnel, the district has no further comment.”

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