By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
HARLEM — The Department of Education wants to fire a Harlem school principal and her female assistant principal for engaging in sexual activity together on campus, according to a report released Friday.
The investigation began when Academy for Social Action Principal Crystal Simmons reported to authorities that Vice Principal Candy Jones "threatened to kill Simmons if Simmons fired Jones" after their relationship went sour, the report by the Special Commissioner of Investigation read.
In the process of reporting the purported death threat, "Simmons admitted that she had a personal relationship with Jones which escalated into a sexual relationship," the report says. She said the relationship had been going on since 2007.
Jones, a former guidance counselor who was promoted in 2009, told investigators that she and her boss "engaged in intimate conduct in the school during school hours." The school is located at 509 W. 129th St.
But when Simmons broke off the relationship and gave Vice Principal Jones poor performance ratings, Jones threatened to kill Simmons, the principal alleged.
Jones told Simmons her father had already purchased the gun she intended to use to kill her, Simmons told investigators, according to the report.
The DOE issued a statement condemning the alleged behavior of the two administrators and announcing their intentions to fire Simmons and Jones.
"We are currently seeking to terminate both Principal Simmons and Assistant Principal Jones," the statement said. "In a setting where the focus is supposed to be on student learning, conduct like this is simply unacceptable."
The report, which was addressed to former schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who resigned earlier this week, is dated Oct. 26.
The matter has been resigned to the New York district attorney and the state Education Department.
