[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6181329,"mediaKeyId","5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1","parentId",5113334,"title","Board discusses capital-project oversight and procurement transparency after audit","audioSeconds",384,"startMs",3494000,"endMs",3878000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1&start=3494&end=3878","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1/thumbnail_3494000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181329/New-York/Board-discusses-capital-project-oversight-and-procurement-transparency-after-audit","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181329-5764dd0e55e61527144400a4228277f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920407&Signature=j4Yb-j8bgPc6aQQurRUwYAMgOwx6s0DNKd~TfmVhVUh7eqZW86CCapedHDvJ-po8Hpq12l06hiO~RbQuJDeAzHeXz7dcbI2~dnuzNsOsNiqkXTBsn2YCLoY~2TiA~xofocQ6FfI760EZs0ibOhMA-61OzbdZHIpg0fBWJH20TwXouZ-sY2-fXRvzqHAQfJ2FDA4d3b~hDSL0Tok5oLqBEXD0J6C9Luf2okYIjrEcqrZYQlmtoHDNg8qzk4M3R1cqnJ1lrWwkXKiHPj3MqvKVlhQiIrTCvDPWJGUsbLZCosFzgIONOu0OmZgfeLQARopjixAbO3XX50fvyzHCjZE9Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-02T14:40:34Z","article","Board members raised concerns about capital-project oversight and contract transparency during discussion of consent and procurement items.

A board member said she had requested the original contract for a capital-project consultant who has billed the district up to a reported $275,000 and had not received it prior to the meeting. Board members asked the administration to provide the consultant's scope of work and the original contract so the board could assess possible duplication of services and confirm value.

Administration responded that the consultant, identified in the meeting as Mr. Thurnau, bills for on-site time as a capital-project consultant; staff said the district has multiple active projects including HVAC, a New Windsor Elementary School project and a locker-room project and noted consultant work supports bidding, construction management and state closeout activities. District staff committed to providing the original contract and a scope-of-work summary before the next regular meeting.

Public commenters and a board member also urged that future bid awards include the number of bidders and the rationale for selection, a recommendation that had been in the forensic audit. A public speaker said disclosing bidder counts would \"go a long way toward making the public feel like we have information.\" District staff agreed that future award reports to the board and the public would include bidder counts and the reasons for selection where appropriate.

Board members discussed creating or reactivating a facilities or capital projects committee that meets regularly so board members can review bids, contracts and project status in more detail; the board agreed to pursue that recommendation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Organizational & Regular Meeting - July 1, 2025 - 6:00PM","oneSentenceSummary","Board members and commenters raised questions about large capital-project contracts, a consultant's scope and the need to disclose bidder counts and selection rationale; administrators promised contract copies and to improve RFP transparency.","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":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6181333,"Board installs officers; president pledges focus on students and transparency",266,98000,364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1&start=98&end=364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1/thumbnail_98000.jpg","/articles/6181333/New-York/Board-installs-officers-president-pledges-focus-on-students-and-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181333-97c71f32fab5a0d72ec9b018c54c39f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920407&Signature=I8Vd9znNk84cukddV-4Jrw~Dhd3HPYZc9jT9HRe-yp06J4DtinawgBCBeKFXhIlCls~N532LzkCvDM~f4~5YEPHIm6cxB4vU6-qzETduSPVNG3J2OdJForIO~YDZ1RrwtDMy732jHU8NBNnVEdEuYr5V3MKbLkLLUT5YK8nTeZDr1vF1GLfLq7MbD5e2FDuN2~RbTdcelvb6~0ivLaFwZ-LMjfy2U4LNBkED1zr0XO4ENmbLh5aoGHU9YyabefU2IFyhFn8hVkzadd7-DSLVrICDaFlH1OMnItJN-EeqvPKu76j~CXfgYwG5YDlBByqoJxymCkE2Vir3kqtOhBpdRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newburgh City School District Board of Education administered oaths of office to newly elected trustees and elected internal officers at its organizational meeting.

Board members were sworn in early in the meeting. The board then held elections for president and vice president for the 2025-26 school year. Members elected Mr. Dorey as president and Mark Levinstein as vice president by roll call.

Following the election, President Dorey addressed the meeting and outlined priorities for the coming year, saying the board will \"get back to focusing on our students, focusing on our faculty, focusing on our administration.\" He said the board sought to be \"visible in the community\" and to emphasize transparency while noting some personnel matters require confidentiality: \"sometimes when we would deal with personnel issues, we afford people the same privacy you would like,\" he said.

The board also moved through officer appointments and committee considerations during the organizational portion of the meeting. Members asked for continuing engagement with community groups, and President Dorey said the board would consider changes to public-comment scheduling and time limits.

The organizational proceedings included standard items such as roll call, oath administration and the installation of board officers; votes on other matters followed later in the agenda.","At the organizational meeting the board administered oaths to newly elected trustees, elected Mr. Dorey president and Mark Levinstein vice president, and the new president pledged to prioritize students, staff and transparency.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6181336,"Board tables proposed electronic-device policy after public challenge citing state law",1174,1642000,2816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1&start=1642&end=2816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1/thumbnail_1642000.jpg","/articles/6181336/New-York/Board-tables-proposed-electronic-device-policy-after-public-challenge-citing-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181336-52e27e326df0a497682efd392c415dcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920407&Signature=OMkgkz6J-KiS7qdRfERuLCVgFWUPwVOnpZ2lGLcA2cVnmWKcrPPx75O0B9wpW12H31hoAWObNuU35BIckUNyKCOzDaMrsTJJYQP~I6VirNHLC0-5CCT2Z9FZNLH3w2nj8ySFaArz0UG5Zl8w51PQJHwpRpYVF1IEs3l6FRT8EIGrHXVzPVc0icNxnyXlTdfAKCsiVxMAaY6O2udNm2V9G70M7A~HiI1CrHGg3Qlix3Z9P2GA3C6KPWAl~mMQ4xCp9sXcbOHosy4aTffI5rMdgkC1g3MV63zqiDPReR8tulcN3Md-jJEpvmhl1rqkkKVLYJ1nn50X5h93LODjhgCVQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newburgh City School District Board of Education on Monday tabled a proposed revision to district policy that would have clarified exceptions allowing students to use Internet-enabled devices during the school day.

Public commenter Tracy Wallace urged the board to reconcile the draft policy with Section 2803 of the New York State Education Law, saying the policy deleted statutory exemptions and incorrectly extended \"bell-to-bell\" school-day language to buses. \"Bell to bell means exactly bell to bell,\" Wallace said, adding she was concerned the proposed exceptions removed translation services and improperly conflated district policy with statutory exemptions.

Following the public comments, administration recommended further review. Board members moved to table the item for additional legal and policy committee review; the motion to table carried by roll call.

Board members said they would reconvene policy committee and legal staff to align the district's draft policy text with state law and clarify exemptions for students with documented health needs or individualized education program (IEP) provisions. The transcript shows a direct request that the district review the statutory language in Section 2803 and return with a revised draft that reflects the full list of exemptions in statute rather than additional or altered language in district policy.","The board tabled a second-reading policy that would expand permitted Internet-enabled device use after public commenters and board members said sections appear inconsistent with Section 2803 of New York State Education Law.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6181341,"Forensic audit draws public scrutiny and board defense as report details procedural concerns",1064,1396000,2460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1&start=1396&end=2460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1/thumbnail_1396000.jpg","/articles/6181341/New-York/Forensic-audit-draws-public-scrutiny-and-board-defense-as-report-details-procedural-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181341-1dfb19d494add662811d62ff9d808140/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920407&Signature=LFp1vKfBCgRnzLd-7Z2Z45VcQ9rrgo4z6fR9XmN-L4qfozj6qFEcmgA4ymho6y68f09jGM0tmBx9vf3hQckBdmfMGQ3tFukL9SV-KotPhJc4uklPOsyYpPM9KkRPXjdnPhyJwIR-rI8pEfPwxCpukRRF-d-tnfTAiIiHVYuriINYk7HeymoVGyV5irwK-kXTREAEOvUbNxQUoluHUa8U2fBp1vu0f3ZB9H68WJaA8t~7PiggiNQ5qJloL~RpsUAcLmjrSNMY61vl4mK2-TYGatxQhsLUT3fO~e0CIqHD4y89RMrAz45AT7qEtEN48ynwjc9r4MjYFNJINvuqd~xxTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public commenters at the Newburgh City School District meeting urged the board to explain results of a recently completed forensic audit and to invite the audit firm to present its findings to the community.

Angela Paul Guitto, a resident, business owner and parent, asked the board to bring the certified public accountants who prepared the audit to a public meeting so the community could ask questions and better understand the findings. \"Forensic audit cost around more than $300,000. We're still not really sure how much. And, what a surprise. We find no criminal activity, no fraudulent activity, and no malfeasance,\" Guitto said, adding that the report runs more than 350 pages and that interested residents had been told to focus on the first 50 pages.

Board member Miss Christine Bello defended the decision to commission the audit and described operational problems the report surfaced, saying the audit \"was not a waste.\" Bello cited several findings: two outside contractors had been granted access to change employee pay rates, the district entered a $33,000,000 energy performance contract without follow-up verification of expected savings, the first energy report due in February never arrived, and there was an approximately $7,800,000 deficit in capital projects documentation.

Bello said those were \"flashing warning signs\" that warranted the expense of the forensic review and urged action. Other public speakers also urged more transparent presentation of audit results so residents could understand the accounting and legal standards cited.

Board members and staff said they would work on ways to make the audit more accessible to the public. The transcript shows board members promising follow-up and additional disclosures; the forensic report and its recommendations were a recurring topic in both the public comment and board discussion portions of the meeting.","Public commenters urged the board to release the forensic audit findings in an accessible format and to host the auditors; a board member defended the audit and cited specific financial and procurement weaknesses found in the report.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6181346,"Newburgh board suspends staff member, fires acting superintendent and appoints Onyx Peterson as acting superintendent",140,1103000,1243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1&start=1103&end=1243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113334-2ae0f73079b37d5cdd1bddb160ef10a1/thumbnail_1103000.jpg","/articles/6181346/New-York/Newburgh-board-suspends-staff-member-fires-acting-superintendent-and-appoints-Onyx-Peterson-as-acting-superintendent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181346-afefdfc84514d13f59b7c44fd0acfb04/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920407&Signature=YIp9sGjCnR8Vo7GTdKMGB6~S7re-Pmle5VEFTDZIMY-By1YqKjfh0pHMXK01AbAk2wOSdzE3Rl6jJmogIxYWegTLmdYjGllPx0hVtG2Yir-gXLWv53FmFAU4tKhNlBrcRBUCbnt0ZK8daW4NQcurbg71HrAMcAhX035jPccSwLSlhTzSVGf-NPML03t2F9FKJU2Y4SP6CMICvqxT8nHBhXqL3NWozh~El73c16wIVpqOujx~moUkX~wJzmEF5W1CiZxuZY~iR~NrwrWKLN7w~CXjnwvZR7muamQRfIjkIb72-Xy6QglOHQ0Ms5nnAdwlmMNYUnjyEh3R2cg7T5fxlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newburgh City School District Board of Education on Monday voted to suspend employee 70125 with pay pending a contractual due-process hearing, to direct the clerk to notify acting Superintendent Dr. Lisa Baughn of the board's decision to terminate her contract effective close of business Sept. 29, 2025, and to appoint Onyx Peterson as acting superintendent immediately.

The personnel items were added to the agenda during the meeting and were approved by roll call. The suspension of employee 70125 was carried by majority vote; the motion directs a paid suspension pending the outcome of a contractual due-process hearing. The termination of Dr. Baughn was approved by roll call and specifies a district directive to notify Dr. Baughn of termination effective close of business 09/29/2025. The board also approved a motion appointing Onyx Peterson to the position of acting superintendent effective immediately.

The board also added six later resolutions related to staffing: the reinstatement of several previously abolished central-office positions effective July 1, 2025, and the reinstatement of employees who had been suspended earlier in the summer. The reinstated positions listed in the added resolution include a TOSA (school transformation instructional specialist), director of communications, director of humanities, director of literacy, director of middle-level education, director of secondary STEM and director of pupil personnel services. Those resolutions were adopted by roll call during the meeting.

During the public portion of the meeting and in remarks after votes, speakers urged transparency and due process. Onyx Peterson addressed the community after her appointment, saying the guiding question for her decisions is: \"Does it serve student growth, safety, and achievement?\" Peterson asked the board and community to \"recommit to the spirit of compromise\" and to prioritize students while healing district divisions.

Several items the board approved note that further steps are subject to collective bargaining rules and applicable law. The session had moved into and returned from executive session earlier in the evening for matters described as employment history of employees, potential matters leading to employment decisions, collective bargaining under the Taylor Law and legal advice.

The board did not provide additional details about the grounds for the suspension or termination during public session beyond the motions read aloud, and the board recorded individual roll-call votes on each motion.","The Newburgh City School District Board of Education voted to suspend an employee with pay, terminate acting Superintendent Dr. Lisa Baughn effective Sept. 29, 2025, and immediately appoint Onyx Peterson as acting superintendent; several related reinstatement resolutions were added later in the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board discusses capital-project oversight and procurement transparency after audit

Board installs officers; president pledges focus on students and transparency

Board tables proposed electronic-device policy after public challenge citing state law

Forensic audit draws public scrutiny and board defense as report details procedural concerns

Newburgh board suspends staff member, fires acting superintendent and appoints Onyx Peterson as acting superintendent