Parents, teachers and students urge Newburgh board to reconsider removal of 16 administrators

Dozens of parents, teachers and students told the Newburgh City School District Board of Education on April 8 that the district cted precipitously in issuing notices to 16 building-level administrators and urged the board to reverse or pause the personnel moves.

The concerns were framed during the meeting—y Rob Kulwocky, who identified himself as vice president of the district dministrators ssociation, and by multiple teachers, students and parents who said the notices arrived without adequate explanation and that removing so many leaders would harm school operations and student supports.

The messages were direct and repeated: the 16 administrators included five building principals, eight directors and three assistant principals, according to Kulwocky, who said the notices were first sent March 19 and that affected staff received no prior warning. "Each day, our 16 administrators wait and see if this is a day they will be called in," Kulwocky said, adding the group represents roughly 25% of the association's membership.

Why this matters: speakers warned the proposed cuts would hollow out building-level leadership during an academic year when the district is also rolling out new reading and math programs and considering other organizational changes. Commenters tied staffing instability to lower morale, potential service gaps for special education and disruptions to school safety and student supports.

What speakers said and asked

- Rob Kulwocky, vice president, Newburgh supervisors and administrators association: Kulwocky said 16 unit members received letters on March 19 directing them to report to human resources for meetings that could be disciplinary in nature. He said the letters gave no explanation, and that an hour after the letters were sent a follow-up email postponed the meetings and offered no further clarification. He said the uncertainty has caused "significant undue stress" among the affected administrators and warned the potential loss of 16 people would "place an immense burden on the remaining administrators."

- Michael Ryan, English teacher, NFA Main: Ryan, who described 29 years with the district, called the targeted list of administrators "disheartening" and urged the board to reconsider letting go long-serving staff who provide continuity.

- Multiple students, including Jim McNeal and Riley Mehta (seniors): Students said principals and other administrators have been stabilizing forces at their schools and that losing them would erase recent improvements in school climate. Mehta said two previously scheduled student meetings with a board member were canceled and criticized the board majority for using student meetings for political advantage; she asked that students be put on a future board agenda so they could speak to the full board.

- Dawn Fuchek, Newburgh resident: Fuchek questioned a separate personnel contract on the agenda (an HR hire) and contrasted the proposed salary with the experience of previous HR leaders. She asked the board to justify high salaries for candidates she said lacked prior, relevant experience.

- Community members and union representatives raised legal and financial concerns: Several commenters said the board should disclose the contract for a forensic audit and other third‑party consultant costs (residents said they had heard the audit might cost more than $300,000), and asked whether recent personnel moves could expose the district to litigation.

District response and context

Acting Superintendent Dr. Baughn (acting superintendent) and district staff presented a budget update and said the district is balancing competing financial and program priorities for the 2025–26 budget year. Board members said personnel matters and proposed abolishments would be discussed in executive session, and legal counsel indicated that some personnel details are appropriately handled in closed session. The board voted earlier in the meeting to allow all registered speakers to address the board that evening; the motion to allow all signed-up speakers was opened by Mr. Howard and passed on a roll call vote.

What was not decided

No formal termination votes occurred in public during the April 8 meeting. Several speakers asked the board to delay any final personnel actions until more information about the budget, the forensic audit contract and the planned organizational chart was provided.

Ending

Speakers asked the board to prioritize students and to preserve institutional knowledge by retaining experienced building leaders. Several asked for transparency on the rationale and timeline for personnel decisions and on the cost and scope of the forensic audit. Board members said some personnel matters will be discussed in executive session and that further updates would be provided at upcoming meetings.