[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6207543,"mediaKeyId","3754525-55b62250d95f59ab03dba80ad6f528dc","parentId",3754525,"title","Teachers' union and residents warn of mass resignations, criticize transfers and hiring; students and staff urge board to prioritize classrooms","audioSeconds",313,"startMs",97000,"endMs",410000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754525-55b62250d95f59ab03dba80ad6f528dc&start=97&end=410","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754525-55b62250d95f59ab03dba80ad6f528dc/thumbnail_97000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207543/New-York/Teachers-union-and-residents-warn-of-mass-resignations-criticize-transfers-and-hiring-students-and-staff-urge-board-to-prioritize-classrooms","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207543-21e17b6ebb0edfb80459a9275288672b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770926665&Signature=fI33CF4SWykPmi1Q40o9oaCg7ccXrD7x3o1temJSfyeTzliiYJz9Tbe~~t~-qUo6RTznjaexqN1p4XuaAO50CCBWLZDETQ131eUADMrXFxEEz6EqYyrqRHm9jW~ObNgnl8ai67lp9vCsCOuKt84WTmZqeB9VH307R7PpkjoMpje2kAWEgzm~SRdI43RnmvTcT1jIUqZ5KOJii8pJjzcpnwRbYDII31aJ7Qd6hJgL-4QJYUUv55d~-~NPPFH8RW~nBGImCC-dnZv8oOW5R2smwHmfMg-yALHJO77rO9aWj2fGYO2kr4rTo~yzllrbP48WDBeJ9wzbrCQDzlq1j7cP5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-10T18:37:18Z","article","Teachers, school staff and community members told the Newburgh Board of Education on June 10 that mass resignations and unfilled teacher positions are harming students and that recent personnel decisions and reassignments are destabilizing buildings.

Stacy Moran, president of the Newburgh Teachers Association, told the board that 39 NTA members have resigned so far this school year and that the district is struggling to fill vacancies. \"These vacancies are not just numbers. They represent lost opportunities for the children of Newberg,\" Moran said, listing vacancies among psychologists, social workers, guidance counselors, speech teachers and foreign-language teachers and saying there were 50 unfilled teaching positions at the time of her remarks.

Why it matters: The staffing shortages and proposed abolishments and reassignments were central to public comments and underpinned opposition to several HR resolutions that the board approved or amended later in the meeting.

Key points raised by speakers

- Resignations and vacancies: Stacy Moran (Newburgh Teachers Association) said 39 union members resigned this school year and that certain schools are disproportionately affected; she said South Middle School lost nine teachers this year and at times averaged 15 open positions with 10 still vacant.

- Cuts and new hires: Moran and others noted that the district previously cut about 82 teacher/teaching positions, then created several higher-paid district roles (directors, assistant superintendents), and questioned why classroom positions were not restored.

- Concerns about transfers and reassignments: Multiple speakers, including Dawn Fuchek and Tracy Wallace, criticized reassignments such as moving a principal from Bonneville Elementary to a pre-K post at Gidney Avenue School (agenda item 6.8). Speakers said the transfers were disruptive and questioned whether replacements had been identified.

- Allegations of improper bargaining-unit work and legal risk: Dawn Fuchek cited a formal letter from the School Administrators Association of New York state and warned that if new roles overlap by 50% or more with existing bargaining-unit duties, the district might violate the Taylor Law and face litigation.

- Appointments and vetting: Several commenters, including Riley Maida (a high-school senior) and community members, questioned the vetting and speed of certain proposed hires, including the proposed executive director of exceptional learners for grades 3\b (agenda item 6.14). Maida cited a news article she said raised concerns about professional conduct by the candidate and asked why a broader search was not conducted.

- Personal testimony: Current and former employees shared personal accounts. Fior Flores described a forced resignation she said she did not accept and recounted years of work with students. Glenda Crawford, a longtime paraprofessional, and others urged the board to reconsider moves they described as punitive.

Board and staff responses

Acting Superintendent Dr. Brown presented a data-driven defense of district initiatives on reading and graduation rates and described planned literacy interventions (partnership with the Reading League, UFLI, Wilson Reading, oral reading fluency assessments and staff training) intended to address long-standing reading deficits. Brown said many of the steps were already in motion and argued the restructuring aimed to improve student outcomes.

Several trustees and central-office leaders asked whether C&I (curriculum and instruction) leaders, assistant superintendents and building principals were involved in the reorganization discussions; multiple administrators said they had not been part of those conversations.

Context and next steps

Public commenters repeatedly asked the board to provide the contract text for the acting superintendent (5.2) and to explain the data and rationale behind abolishments, transfers and hires. Trustees and staff said some items were tabled or amended for further consideration, and the board recessed into executive session at the end of the meeting.

Ending

Public comment at the meeting reflected deep community concern about staffing, process and transparency. Speakers urged the board to prioritize classroom positions and spelled out expectations for clearer explanations and more inclusive decision-making before final implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Regular Meeting - June 10, 2025 - 6:30PM","oneSentenceSummary","Union leaders, educators, students and residents urged the board to address a wave of resignations and unfilled vacancies and criticized recent abolishments, transfers and hires they say hurt students and staff.","taxTitle","Newburgh City School District, School Districts, New York","taxId",14388,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6207548,"Board approves multiple personnel and position changes, tables acting superintendent contract after contentious public comment",0,3386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754525-55b62250d95f59ab03dba80ad6f528dc&start=3386&end=3386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754525-55b62250d95f59ab03dba80ad6f528dc/thumbnail_3386000.jpg","/articles/6207548/New-York/Board-approves-multiple-personnel-and-position-changes-tables-acting-superintendent-contract-after-contentious-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207548-b206d9209da6f3942fc0ca3b281d6a65/orig.mp4?Expires=1770926665&Signature=GetJ0lIOogftiXKxaGYEtQ8BjSpZpL5ItTrAzrI58ZqBD2NtZA5ciDYeYWyhmcL7mdDjJ20jGqXf-MGQtAgH6Wjy78~qbfyUMxZdnsd~7yTyG~n0PTKyc2283YtOxT-GYuWd4vstKa3fEKwggTbIRgSeUf7uxH63RniaxgVZPZeS-rnls2bc-Anh03GKOuTyStOER9Mu8vWOoJ108ihUuQ0co17a-PBCMZl2QszoSCNjACrnPEgvzSKKjc7gBcCQz0n6YrsRlplTdfgd1HZNkIz5YimzjGCnAmXR-ScKVZLkQqiUtREJ5VaX5htTyQpVfYtCSUEnQymaets20R6mNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newburgh Board of Education on June 10 approved a package of human-resources and operational resolutions, including a $5,000 increase to an investigator's contract and changes to the effective date for newly created positions, while tabling a proposed contract for the acting superintendent amid sustained public protest.

Board action came after a lengthy public-comment period in which teachers, parents, students and community members urged the board to stop proposed abolishments, transfers and hires and raised concerns about vacancies, potential Taylor Law violations, and conflicts of interest.

Why it matters: The votes will immediately affect staffing and the district's administrative structure ahead of the 2025-26 school year and prompted repeated questions about budget authority, bargaining-unit work and legal risk.

What the board voted on (high level)

- Resolution 5.1 (investigator contract increase): Passed by roll call. Yes votes included DeRae, Stewart, Christine Bello, Thomasina Bello, Mackenzie Boucher and Victoria Boucher; No votes included Bergarelli, Howard and Politti. Board members said the additional $5,000 covered extra work the investigator performed.

- Resolution 5.2 (contract for acting superintendent): A motion to table the item carried by roll call (unanimous yes on the motion to table). The item was deferred rather than voted up or down.

- Added agenda item (amend effective dates for newly created positions to take effect June 11, 2025, rather than July 1): The board added and then approved the amendment and the change. The roll call on adding and on final approval showed a divided vote: the motion passed with a slim majority (five trustees voting yes, four no). Board staff acknowledged the positions were not budgeted in fiscal year 2024-25 and said savings from other abolishments could be redirected to cover the short-term cost.

- Human-resources package (items 6.1'026): Trustees considered a long list of abolishments, hires, transfers and new positions. The board separated several items for discussion, amended some items to table specific positions, and then approved the remainder by roll call. Notable outcomes included: approval of resolution 6.1 as amended (abolitions with several subsections tabled); approval of resolution 6.8 (reassignment of a principal to a pre-K post at Gidney Avenue School) after trustees were told a permanent replacement for Bonneville Elementary would be posted and interviewed; approval of resolution 6.11 (creation of an assistant superintendent role focused on pre-K to grade 2); tabling of resolution 6.14 (appointment for executive director of exceptional learners for grades 3\b); and approval of resolution 6.15 after a roll-call vote.

- Consent and operating items: Multiple consent packages (consent items in Sections 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10) were approved by roll call with the usual motions, including finance items and technology and curriculum consent items.

Board and staff remarks and clarifications

Assistant Superintendent for Finance (Miss Roaring) said the newly effective positions were not included in the 2024-25 budget and that any immediate pay obligations would require reallocating funds in the current year; she said she did not have final dollar calculations available at the meeting.

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources (Miss Holder) introduced the HR resolutions and added the item changing effective dates for newly created positions.

A motion to go into executive session to discuss personnel and legal advice was approved late in the meeting; the board indicated there would be action after executive session.

Votes at a glance (selected items; outcomes reflect roll calls taken during the meeting)

- Consent package (3.2'.6): Approved (roll call).
- Consent package (4.1\u0004.2): Approved (roll call).
- 5.1 (investigator contract increase, +$5,000): Approved (roll call: 6 yes, 3 no).
- 5.2 (contract for acting superintendent): Motion to table approved (unanimous on motion to table).
- Added item: Amend effective date for newly created positions to 06/11/2025 (instead of 07/01/2025): Approved (roll call: majority yes; not budgeted in FY25).
- 6.1 (abolishment of positions) as amended: Approved (with specified subsections tabled).
- 6.2\u0006.7: Approved (individual roll calls; some items were tabled by motion where noted during discussion).
- 6.6: Motion to table passed.
- 6.8 (principal reassignment): Approved (roll call); board said replacement will be posted and hired before the change becomes effective July 1.
- 6.11 (assistant superintendent pre-K'2): Approved (roll call); no contract changes to current C&I elementary director were announced.
- 6.14 (executive director of exceptional learners, grades 3\b): Motion to table carried.
- 6.15: Approved after roll call.
- Finance consent (7.1\u0007.3): Approved (roll call).
- Technology (8.1) and curriculum/secondary (9.1) consent items: Approved (roll calls).
- Exceptional learners consent (10.1): Approved (roll call).

Notes on procedure and budget authority

Multiple trustees and members of the public asked how the district would pay for positions that were not included in the FY25 budget and whether savings from abolished positions would be redirected. Finance staff said any coverage would require reallocations and that final payroll costs were not compiled at the meeting.

Several trustees asked whether the assistant superintendents, deputy superintendent and building leaders were included in discussions about the reorganization; multiple central-office leaders later said they had not been part of those conversations.

Ending

The votes concluded after a protracted public-comment period and an exchange on meeting decorum; the board recessed into executive session and stated it would consider additional action afterward. The decisions leave several staffing questions open, including how short-term pay obligations will be funded and which administrators will fill newly posted building and district roles.","After more than two hours of public comment and heated exchanges, the Newburgh Board of Education approved several human-resources resolutions and an added item changing start dates for newly created positions, tabled the acting superintendent's contract and faced sustained criticism from teachers, parents and students.","actionData","errors"]

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Teachers' union and residents warn of mass resignations, criticize transfers and hiring; students and staff urge board to prioritize classrooms

Board approves multiple personnel and position changes, tables acting superintendent contract after contentious public comment