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

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—); 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—.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—.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—): Motion to table carried. - 6.15: Approved after roll call. - Finance consent (7.1—.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.