Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell, Superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, is due to receive an increase in salary from $285,000 to $300,000. The increase will go into effect on January 1, 2024.

The salary increase passed by a 5-3 vote during the Newburgh Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, June 6. Board members Darren Stridiron, Jerry Ryan Lamar and Renee Greene were opposed to the increase and several other considered contracts.

In an open letter to the Newburgh community, Manning Campbell addressed comments made online about contracts.

“I am disheartened to learn of social media posts and commentary that accuse me of being self-serving and disinterested in settling contracts with anyone else in the district other than myself. Nothing can be further from the truth. Please allow me the opportunity to provide you with the facts. Within my first few months entering the school district, I was able to settle the Newburgh Teacher Association and the Newburgh Teacher Assistant contract for the current year. My commitment to this school district is tireless and my requests for compensation are consistent with other small city school districts,” said Manning Campbell in her letter. “I am simply complying with the language in my contract that will bring me closer to the equitable and comparable compensation my position requires. This contract will also begin to close the salary gap between the leadership of the NECSD and other school districts in the Hudson Valley.”

According to the district website using student population and budget figures, the district has an enrollment of over 10,000 students and the current superintendent makes $285,000. Using managed budget compared to salary figures, the district has an operating budget of over $300,000,000 with the superintendent salary still set at $285,000. Compared to four other Orange County districts, their student enrollment and budget figures are lower than the Newburgh district yet these districts are paying their superintendents with salaries over $300,000.

According to the Newburgh contract documents, the superintendent’s salary was established from July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 at the established $285,000. Additional executive staff were also approved for new salary contracts going forward over the course of the next three years. Deputy Superintendent Ed Forgit was previously listed on the district’s agenda as one of the administration staff to have been approved for a new contract. Instead, Forgit made the decision to remove himself from consideration.

On Tuesday night, a three-year contract for Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Michael McLymore was approved by a 5-3 vote. A three year contract for Assistant Superintendent for Exceptional Learners Chris Bayer was approved by a 5-3 vote. A 2.5% increase in base salary for Assistant Superintendent for Finance/Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Rohring was approved by a 5-3 vote. Each of the contracts and corresponding documents are available on the Newburgh WordDocs website for public review.

In the audience during the course of about an hour of public comment were community members, current educators, several elected officials and parents. Several of these audience members asked the board why they would move forward with the presented decision while also heavily criticizing the decision. Community members also still reference the payout that occurred during the 2021 school year with former Superintendent Robert Padilla when discussing district finances.

“What’s happening here tonight, it’s not equity, it’s the furthest thing from it. Contracts of several senior staff have considerable time remaining but they’re being extended or altered without a publicly disclosed rationale,” said Heritage Teacher Matthew DeGraw. “It’s simply unfair to extend these contracts while asking teachers to give up even more of our most precious and finite resource, our time.”

“I am disappointed with the workings of the Board of Education,” said NFA Main teacher Matthew Abate. “The district hasn’t been in negotiations with its two largest unions, the NTA [Newburgh Teachers Association] and CSEA for some time now and has had many labor issues that are yet to be resolved. Why hasn’t the plan to extend central office cabinet members been communicated to the public?”

“This is malarkey. I too know several of you and I would not speak ill of your professional ability. You have a contract, you have a colleague who led by example by withdrawing themself from consideration. Lead by example, pay the teachers first,” said parent David Rein. “Don’t incur new debt until you pay the debt that’s owed to your community. What are you doing with my money?”