Middletown board appoints acting superintendent, approves personnel leaves and school construction change orders

The Enlarged City School District of Middletown Board of Education on Sept. 4 appointed Camila Doma as acting superintendent effective Aug. 29 and approved a slate of personnel and construction items, including a contested paid personal leave and change orders for the Twin Towers project.

Camila Doma’s appointment was approved unanimously, with the board resolving that Doma “shall be vested with all the powers and responsibilities of the superintendent of schools” effective Aug. 29, 2025, and that she will receive an additional stipend of $175 per day retroactive to that date for each day she serves in the role.

The acting-superintendent vote followed an amendment to the meeting agenda to add an administrative appointment, a personal leave and the athletic-director appointment. That amendment passed unanimously. The board then voted 9–0 to reappoint David Coats as athletic director under a one-year memorandum of understanding.

A separate personnel motion to place Ms. Amy Creden on paid personal leave, retroactive to Aug. 29, 2025, passed on a roll-call vote, 5–4. Board members who voted yes were Dr. De Jesus, Mr. Moore, Mr. Rhett, Ms. Romero and Mr. Freddie Williams. Members who voted no were Mr. Estrada, Mr. Perino, Ms. Tobias and Pastor Williams.

The board approved two change orders for the Twin Towers project. District staff explained the first change order is to repair a leaking valve in the existing geothermal manifold; the second adds two zone control valves to the fire sprinkler system to accommodate construction phasing and ease future repairs and maintenance. Those change orders were approved unanimously earlier in the meeting.

Other action items approved by the board during the meeting included administrative, instructional and noninstructional personnel memoranda; financial memoranda; and two special-services items. The board also approved a stipulation of agreement with the MTA to allow an additional 15 minutes in the morning for specified student-support activities and arrivals; district staff described the added time as supporting scholars’ morning supervision and security assignments.

Most agenda items were approved without extended debate. Several motions passed unanimously (initial approvals recorded as 8–0 before the meeting recessed into executive session and 9–0 after the board returned to public session). The paid-leave vote was the only recorded roll-call vote with individual yes and no votes reported in the transcript.

The board adjourned after approving the items and confirmed the next scheduled meeting for Sept. 18.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve amendment to agenda to add administrative appointment, personal leave and athletic-director appointment: passed 9–0 (voice vote). - Appointment of Camila Doma as acting superintendent, effective Aug. 29, 2025, stipend $175/day retroactive to Aug. 29, 2025: passed 9–0 (voice vote). - Personnel leave: place Amy Creden on paid personal leave, retroactive to Aug. 29, 2025: passed 5–4 (roll-call vote; yes: Dr. De Jesus, Mr. Moore, Mr. Rhett, Ms. Romero, Mr. Freddie Williams; no: Mr. Estrada, Mr. Perino, Ms. Tobias, Pastor Williams). - Reappointment of David Coats as athletic director (one-year memorandum of understanding): passed 9–0 (voice vote). - Change orders F.1 and F.2 (Twin Towers): repair leaking geothermal manifold valve; add two zone control valves for fire sprinkler phasing and maintenance — passed (earlier recorded as 8–0). - Stipulation of agreement with the MTA (authorizing 15 additional minutes for morning arrival/assignment supports): passed (recorded as 8–0). - Administrative, instructional and noninstructional personnel memoranda, financial memoranda, and special-services memoranda listed on the agenda: approved (majority recorded as 8–0 or 9–0 as noted above).

(If an agenda item is listed above without an ordinance/resolution number, the transcript did not specify a formal agenda identifier.)