Trust and notice concerns surface as board discusses hiring a public relations firm

Trust and public-notice concerns were a recurring theme at the Newberg and Large City School District board meeting on July 15, with trustees and a public commenter urging clearer, earlier notification of major fiscal and personnel decisions. The board also opened a discussion about issuing a request for proposals to hire a public relations firm to support district messaging and recruitment. During public comments, a community member and parent, Mister Dennis Grant, and trustee Miss Politti among others said the board should prioritize accountability and transparent processes. Miss Politti said she believed the district needed to rebuild public confidence by following lawful process and providing adequate public notice for significant items. She specifically criticized six walk-on items passed at a previous meeting, including a four-year employment contract with lifetime health benefits and a $35,000 raise, saying the public had no advance notice and that the actions may have violated a 24-hour advance notice requirement in the New York State Open Meetings law. Board members and district staff discussed options for improving communications. Board President (identified in the transcript as "mister president") and trustees described plans to solicit proposals for a public relations firm to provide marketing, recruiting campaigns for staff, and consistent messaging on budgets and capital projects. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Miss Peterson said staff would work with the communications department and purchasing to prepare an RFP and bring it back to the board for parameters and next steps. Trustees said the district's communications office is lean and that outside firms could extend capacity for recruitment and public messaging. No contract award occurred at the meeting; the discussion was offered as a policy/strategic planning item and the board agreed to continue work on drafting an RFP. Separately, concerns about moving meeting times to 5:30 p.m. and about walk-on resolutions without advance notice were raised by trustees and public speakers as undermining public engagement; the transcript records calls for stricter adherence to notice requirements and for board humility in correcting past errors.