A mother and son duo, Marlene Delgado and Nicholas Koukaras, who were employed by the city Department of Education were found to have scammed a Manhattan public school for children with disabilities out of nearly $8,500. Delgado, a school secretary at PS M169, approved payments to her son, a substitute paraprofessional, on 55 days when he did not sign in or show up. Additionally, she credited her son with an extra 50 minutes on five days when he did sign in, resulting in improper payments totaling $8,479.78, according to a report by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools released on March 23, 2023.
In September 2019, the principal of PS 169M authorized Delgado’s son to fill in as a substitute aide for two weeks at the school. However, without the principal’s permission, Delgado assigned her son to the school for another six months and entered time sheets for him into the DOE payroll system. The mother and son duo were found to have engaged in employee misconduct, falsifying documents, and theft of service, as outlined in the SCI report. Despite being given the opportunity to be interviewed by SCI investigators, both Delgado and Koukaras refused.
Special Commissioner Anastasia Coleman recommended that Chancellor David Banks take disciplinary action against Delgado and Koukaras, up to and including firing them. While Koukaras was fired and put on the DOE’s “Do Not Hire” list in January 2020, Delgado remained in her position at PS M169. She received a salary of $83,883 in the last fiscal year. In March, Delgado agreed to pay a $10,000 fine to the city Conflicts of Interest Board, but both Delgado and Koukaras did not return messages seeking comment regarding the situation.
The actions of Delgado and Koukaras were deemed unacceptable by a DOE spokesman, who acknowledged the misconduct and theft of service committed by the mother and son duo. Despite the findings of the investigation and the recommendation for disciplinary action, Delgado remained in her position at PS M169. The case highlights the issue of employee misconduct, falsifying documents, and theft of service within the city Department of Education, and the importance of holding individuals accountable for such actions.
Overall, the investigation into the scam involving Marlene Delgado and Nicholas Koukaras revealed a series of fraudulent activities carried out by the mother and son duo at a Manhattan public school for children with disabilities. Despite the disciplinary action taken against Koukaras, Delgado continues to hold her position at the school. The case underscores the need for transparency, accountability, and consequences for individuals engaged in fraudulent behavior within the Department of Education.
