Dr. Lisa Buon has been appointed acting superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, effective Feb. 11, following the recent suspension of Superintendent Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell. The appointment was confirmed Monday, Feb. 3, by District Clerk Matthew McCoy.

The Board of Education voted 5-4 on Jan. 28 to suspend Manning Campbell with pay and benefits, pending an investigation. The board has not disclosed the reason for the suspension, citing confidentiality requirements.

Board of Education President Christine Bello expressed confidence in Buon’s leadership. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Lisa Buon step into the role of acting superintendent. Her deep-rooted commitment to our district and her passion for education will undoubtedly inspire and guide us as we strive to provide a successful learning environment for our students,” Bello said in a statement.

Buon, who has spent 34 years in education, including 20 in Newburgh, said she looks forward to working with students, parents, staff, and the board to “build a bright future for all of our children.”

“My two main goals are to ensure that our students are safe in our schools and to provide the tools for every child to read at or above grade level,” Buon said. She encouraged the community to visit www.thereadingleague.org to learn about evidence-based reading instruction.

Buon’s background includes a doctorate in educational leadership, a Master of Arts in developmental and remedial reading, and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with a minor in African American studies.

Her appointment has drawn mixed reactions. Some school board members and residents voiced opposition, recalling Buon’s 2019 reassignment to Balmville Elementary School from South Middle School. At the time, community members protested the decision. Before her time at South, she served as principal at Horizons-on-the-Hudson for 12 years.

Buon previously filed lawsuits against the district, former administrator Lisamarie Spindler, and former Superintendent Roberto Padilla, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. In April 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a lower court decision, allowing the case to proceed. The lawsuits were later settled in October 2023, though settlement terms were not disclosed. She also filed a separate charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

At a contentious board meeting Tuesday night, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Onyx Peterson provided an update on the district’s budget and announced she would lead the district until Buon takes office. The board voted 5-4 to authorize the acting superintendent contract, which runs through June 30, 2025. Buon will take an unpaid leave from her position as principal of the district’s pre-kindergarten program at Gidney Avenue Memorial School.

Under the agreement, Buon will serve as the district’s chief administrative officer and receive an annual salary of $285,000.

The board also approved a request for proposals for a forensic audit in a 5-4 vote. The audit will examine capital projects, energy performance contracts, grants, the general fund, and Medicaid reimbursements.

Tensions ran high at the meeting as community members criticized the board’s handling of Manning Campbell’s suspension. Some residents questioned the financial burden of paying multiple superintendents, while others raised concerns about transparency and racial motivations.

“This district hired a superintendent to clean up a previous superintendent’s mess and improve our schools, but some board members tied her hands,” said parent Maggie Welling. “While we were paying the previous superintendent salary, we were also paying this superintendent salary and now are we going to pay for another two superintendents again? How is that fiscally responsible?”

Resident Torrence Robinson added, “There’s a lot that needs to be explained to the community. We’re frustrated, and we don’t know what’s going on.”

Manning Campbell is the second superintendent in recent years to be suspended. Padilla was placed on leave in 2021 amid allegations of misconduct involving two female district employees. An internal investigation was inconclusive, but the board extended his paid leave until November 2023 as part of a separation agreement. He later became superintendent of Community School District 7 in the Bronx.

Manning Campbell was appointed superintendent in May 2022 and received a salary increase from $285,000 to $300,000 in 2023, effective Jan. 1, 2024.