Saipan Southern High vice principal under investigation

The Public School System is investigating Saipan Southern High School vice principal Eric San Nicolas, reportedly for behavior that occurred while he was vice principal of Tinian Sr. Jr. High School.

San Nicolas was put on administrative leave with pay on Sept. 29, according to the PSS legal counsel office.

The results of the investigation should be out by the end of November, according to the office.

“We are doing our best to see if his conduct rose to the level of termination,” said Tiberius Mocanu, legal counsel for PSS.

The fact that he is suspended with pay does not mean he is guilty of anything, Mocanu said.

“When we hear allegations [about] our teachers, we take them seriously and we protect our students. This was the responsible decision, but by any means this does not reflect a viewpoint,” he said, adding that PSS is investigating out of caution.

Concerns were raised from within PSS regarding San Nicolas and PSS acted, Mocanu said.
As to the nature of the concern that prompted the investigation, Mocanu described it as “allegations after the fact.”

A hearing officer will be named in early November, he said.

Hearings will be scheduled and proceed from there, with both parties being called in.
San Nicolas left Tinian Sr. Jr. High School after school year 2012-2013.

According to the SSHS website, he was welcomed as the new vice principal for school year 2014-2015.

Darrah Benavente is now acting vice principal of Saipan Southern High School as of Oct. 10, according to PSS.

‘Got along a little too well’

A former Tinian Jr. Sr. High School student spoke to Saipan Tribune and referred to a “scandal” that broke out on Tinian in the summer of 2013.

He believes San Nicolas’ current investigation has to do with an affair San Nicolas had with a student at the school.

The student, who asked not to be named, said that during his time at TJSHS, San Nicolas was looked up to as a “role model” and “strict authority figure” who was often the main enforcer of school policies.

He would always be found walking through the hallways of the school and monitoring the students, the former TJSHS student said.

“He was bright, responsible, and generally got along with the students. His problem, I suppose, was that he got along a little ‘too well’ with one of the students,” the student said.

The student, who was entering his senior year of high school, confirmed that San Nicolas was no longer with the school the following school year.

The girl involved was reportedly 19 years old at the time.