February 11, 2025  

Petition for Oversight and Review of Reckless BOE Decisions Potentially Negatively Impacting School Performance and Student Academic Achievement

To: The Honorable Dr. Betty A. Rosa  

New York State Commissioner of Education

President of the University of the State of New York  

NYS Education Department  
89 Washington Avenue  
Albany, NY 12234  

Dear Regent Dr. Rosa,

We, the undersigned parents and community stakeholders of Newburgh City Free School District in Orange County, are writing to express our serious concerns about the current state of our school district. Because of the actions of the Board of Education’s (BOE) majority of five out of nine board members, the education of our children is being adversely affected by a lack of transparency, fiscal mismanagement, and reckless decision-making. The majority of five BOE members consistently vote as a bloc to oppose the suspended superintendent’s initiatives to improve school performance and student academic achievement. The majority decision to suspend our recent superintendent (with pay) was done in secrecy without any community involvement or ability to hear any rationale for the removal of the superintendent.  What we have observed is that the President of the BOE who is a member of the majority of five, who have named themselves as the “Clear Choice Coalition,” have failed to put anything on meeting agendas that address student outcomes, improving graduation rates or improving school performance. The following list briefly reflects our frustration with the majority of the BOE members to silence the community in the matter of the removal of our superintendent:

1. Of the nine BOE members, the majority of five is comprised of an aunt and her niece, and two sisters. This is against best practices for NYS BOE’s. These four plus another member of the Clear Choice Coalition consistently vote as a bloc.
   2. The reckless decision to suspend our superintendent is without merit and appears to be without guidance of counsel, opening the District up to a possible huge liability, further reducing funding available to support improved student outcomes and school performance. 

   3. Fiscal irresponsibility: presently paying the former superintendent who was forced to leave ($650,000.00); not appointing the Deputy Superintendent as acting superintendent, but bringing back a principal who was placed on administrative leave (who has won multiple litigations against the District and now engaged in present litigation against the District) to be paid a superintendent’s salary; Positioning the District to have to buy out the suspended superintendent’s contract ($900,000.00 – 3 years).
   4. Reckless decision making: Not allowing the deputy superintendent to contractually continue running the school district while the investigation of the suspended superintendent reaches completion; appointing a former principal with no Central Office Experience to become superintendent.
   5. According to National Search Committee standards, the new superintendent “Will have demonstrated highly successful school level and executive level educational leadership experience. The newly appointed “Acting Superintendent” does not meet this metric utilized to hire the suspended superintendent.
   6. The Acting Superintendent will be over contract negotiations involving the Teachers Union which has been named in present litigation the acting superintendent has against them, whose contract the superintendent would have to negotiate.
   7. The Clear Choice Coalition BOE members (five) are inexperienced, highly ineffective, and untrained for their role.
   We respectfully petition the New York State Department of Education to take immediate action in addressing the issues surrounding the removal of our school superintendent with pay, the fiscal mismanagement, and the reckless decisions made by the group calling themselves the “Clear Choice Coalition.” No coalition should exist on a local school board.

   Over the past months, our community has witnessed a series of troubling events that have significantly impacted the quality of education and the trust we place in our educational leaders. We believe that the education of our children is paramount and should not be compromised by poor leadership and mismanagement. Therefore, we urge the New York State Board of Regents to:

   - Conduct a thorough investigation into the actions of the current Board of Education and the circumstances surrounding the superintendent's removal.

   - Implement measures to ensure greater transparency and accountability within the district's financial operations.

   - Provide guidance and support to help our district realign its priorities with the educational needs of our students.

   We trust that the New York State Board of Regents will take our concerns seriously and act in the best interest of our children and community. We are committed to working collaboratively to restore confidence in our school district and ensure a high-quality education for all students.

   Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response and action.

    

   Sincerely,

    

   Rev. Dr. Torrence Robinson

   Parent/Pastor  

   Newburgh Enlarged City School District -  Orange County, N.Y.