Two former Boston Public Schools principals have been fined $4,000 each for violating ethics laws by giving donated "Hamilton" tickets to their sons, who were not students at the school.
In 2023, the Boston Educational Development Fund generously donated a dozen tickets to the Tobin School for students to attend a performance of the smash hit Broadway play "Hamilton" at the Citizens Bank Opera House. Each ticket was valued at approximately $149.
Regrettably, the school's former principal, Natasha Halfkenny, and assistant principal, Coreen Miranda, who were responsible for chaperoning the event, breached their ethical obligations by diverting three of the donated tickets to their sons, who were not students at Tobin School.
Ethics Violations: Boston School Principals Punished for Misusing "Hamilton" Tickets
The Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, which investigates potential conflicts of interest, conducted an inquiry and concluded that Halfkenny and Miranda had violated the law. The law prohibits public employees from using their official positions to secure valuable benefits for themselves or others that are not legitimately available to them.
In a statement, David Wilson, the State Ethics Commission's Executive Director, emphasized the importance of public officials adhering to ethical guidelines and avoiding conflicts of interest. He stated, "By choosing to allocate three of the donated Hamilton tickets to their own sons who were not Tobin School or BPS students, Halfkenny and Miranda denied three Tobin School students of the opportunity to attend the show and violated the conflict of interest law."
Ethics Violations: Boston School Principals Punished for Misusing "Hamilton" Tickets
Wilson added, "This case serves as a reminder that public employees must not use their authority to obtain special privileges for themselves or others to which they are not entitled, and that such actions have legal consequences."
According to the State Ethics Commission's findings, instead of making the opportunity to attend "Hamilton" available to all Tobin School students, Halfkenny and Miranda handpicked a group of nine eighth-graders. At a later stage, Halfkenny allocated an additional ticket to her son, who was not a student at Tobin or any Boston Public School.
Ethics Violations: Boston School Principals Punished for Misusing "Hamilton" Tickets
Halfkenny is no longer employed at Tobin School, while Miranda continues to serve as an assistant principal. Boston Public Schools did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.
The height of "Hamilton's" popularity in 2016 saw tickets in such high demand that eager theatergoers endured months-long waiting lists for a chance to witness Lin-Manuel Miranda's electrifying performance as Alexander Hamilton. However, those unable to secure tickets were able to experience the play's magic when it became available for streaming on Disney+ in 2020.
"Hamilton" garnered widespread critical acclaim, winning 11 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Another of Miranda's Broadway triumphs, "In The Heights," was adapted into a movie musical in 2021.
When asked about the possibility of bringing "Hamilton" to the big screen, Miranda expressed a need for greater distance from the project. "I have no distance from 'Hamilton,'" he explained. "It's still happening to me in ways large and small. So it would take a real director with vision to do something that would set it apart from the stage production."
