The Newburgh Board of Education held a special meeting on Sunday, June 30, during which three superintendent contracts were approved following board votes. Several board members and members of the public expressed disapproval and concerns over these contracts. Public comment was not allowed during the meeting.

At the special meeting, held at the Board of Education Auditorium, Board President John Doerre and members Philip Howard, Mark Levinstein, Ray Burgarelli, Christine Bello, and Victoria Bousche were physically present. Member Fred Stewart, Superintendent Jackielyn Manning Campbell, and other district administrators were not present. Newly elected members Mackenzie Bousche and Thomasina Bello, who were set to be sworn in on July 2, were also absent.

Board member Letitia Politi was calling in from a café in Barnegat Light, New Jersey. The public was invited to attend the meeting in either locations.

The first of three items was the approval of Onyx Peterson as the deputy superintendent of schools, effective August 19. The second item was the execution of an agreement with Assistant Superintendent for Finance Kimberly Rohring. The third item was the execution of an agreement with Assistant Superintendent for Equity Dr. Natasha Freeman-Mack.

At a June 27 special meeting, the contracts with the three administrators were postponed until the next meeting by a unanimous vote from the board members. The postponement was due to Bello questioning Rohring’s contract posting, which the superintendent clarified had been posted that morning. Board attorney David Shaw confirmed that the contract must be made available to the general public 24 hours in advance of a vote, according to New York State Open Meetings Law.

According to New York State’s Open Meetings Law overview, the law applies to “public bodies,” defined as entities consisting of two or more people conducting public business and performing governmental functions for New York State, its agencies, or public corporations, including school districts.

Peterson’s contract as the deputy superintendent will be effective starting August 19. The district superintendent stated on June 27 that 29 candidates had applied for the position. The contract specifies an annual base salary of $230,000 through June 30, 2025, with potential longevity payments. The contract states that in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the deputy’s base salary will increase by 3% above the 2024-25 base salary, plus longevity amounts. The same 3% increase, with applied longevity amounts, will occur in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Peterson, listed on the district website as the Assistant Superintendent and Chief Information and Data Officer, will assume the role of deputy superintendent following the resignation of Deputy Superintendent Ed Forgit, who is concluding a 15-year tenure with the district to continue in the education field in another district.

Rohring’s agreement will be extended from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. Starting on July 1, 2025, Rohring’s base salary will increase by 3% above her 2024-25 fiscal year salary, with additional 3% increases on July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027, plus longevity payments if applicable.

Freeman-Mack’s agreement states that, effective July 1, 2025, her salary will be set at an annual base rate of $185,000 through June 30, 2026, plus an annual stipend of $1,900 for holding a doctoral degree, as well as longevity amounts. For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the base salary will increase by 3% above the 2025-26 base salary, plus the stipend and longevity amounts. The same applies for the 2027-28 fiscal year.

Several board members made statements regarding the items before them.

“I would like to explain the rationale for my votes. It is not because the superintendent may want it. I do not always agree with our superintendents. I generally do my pushback behind the scenes—sometimes successfully, sometimes not. My votes have always been what I feel is best to support our students,” said Mark Levinstein. “At this point, the district is without a superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and this summer, will be without a deputy superintendent. I have no expectation going forward that the new leadership will fill these positions with qualified personnel.”