Padilla paid leave to be extended through Nov. 2023

School board approves separation package by 6-3 vote

By Alberto Gilman
Posted 12/31/21

Newburgh Schools Superintendent Roberto Padilla, on paid leave of absence since prior to the start of the school year is set to receive another 23 months of pay.

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Padilla paid leave to be extended through Nov. 2023

School board approves separation package by 6-3 vote

Posted

Newburgh Schools Superintendent Roberto Padilla, on a paid leave of absence since prior to the start of the school year, is set to receive another 23 months of pay.

The school board, at a special 40-minute meeting on Friday, Dec. 31, approved an 11-page agreement that calls for a leave of absence with full pay and benefits commencing January 1, 2022 and continuing through November 23, 2023, “unless the Employee secures employment elsewhere prior to that date, in which event his resignation shall become effective on the date of commencement of such other employment.”

The vote was 6-3, with board members Renee Greene, Shane Henderson and Darren Stridiron voting no.  Board members Philip Howard, Mark Levenstein, Carol Maida, William Walker, Ramona Burton and Board President Carole Mineo all voted yes. 

Stridron read a lengthy statement before casting his vote. 

“I will be voting no on this agreement,” Stridiron concluded. “I am in favor of filing charges against Roberto Padilla and letting the arbitrator decide based on the evidence.”

Also commenting was board member Shane Henderson. 

“As a father, taxpayer, board of ed member, Newburgh alumni and fifth generation Newburgh resident, I do not agree with this agreement in the statement,” Henderson said.  “My vote is no.”

Padilla was placed on paid leave by the school board in August, following allegations of improper conduct towards a female district employee at a conference in San Diego earlier in the year. The district, at that time, authorized an investigation into the incident, but had never commented publicly on the matter until Friday.  At that August meeting, Deputy Superintendent Ed Forgit was named Interim Superintendent of Schools, a title he will continue to have through November of 2023.

Friday’s agreement includes a statement from the Newburgh Enlarged City School District that was read into the official record by District Clerk Matthew McCoy. It reads:

“Dr. Roberto Padilla and the Newburgh Board of Education have reached an agreement for his separation from employment with the District. Despite several misinformed media reports, there have been no adjudications between the District and Dr. Padilla with a determination that he is guilty of any misconduct.”

“Late this past summer, the Board received complaints under the District’s sexual harassment policy from two former employees who were at a social event during a conference with Dr. Padilla and others in early August. As required by District Policy, the Board President arranged for independent investigators to proceed based on claims of sexual harassment. Reports were received by the Board from investigators who reviewed certain allegations in common and reached inconsistent conclusions about the import of what occurred. Dr Padilla denied the allegations against him and several witnesses who were interviewed expressed their views that no wrongdoing occurred. It is undisputed that the allegations would not constitute the elements of any crime and the allegations might not constitute sufficient grounds to set aside Dr. Padilla’s employment contract. The allegations made this past summer were the first time any allegations of this nature were brought to the Board of Education regarding Dr. Padilla.

“In July 2021, based upon evaluated job performance, Dr. Padilla was given a contract extension providing a maximum contract term set to expire June 2026 with addition compensation making him the second highest paid superintendent in Orange County.”

“By reaching this separation agreement, the District can look forward  to focusing its attention on establishing a new administration and Dr. Padilla can look forward to his future career endeavors.”

An appendix to the agreement is a letter of resignation from Padilla, addressed to District Clerk Matthew McCoy.

“My resignation is effective November 30, 2023 or on such earlier date when I secure employment elsewhere prior to that date,” the letter reads, “but subject to the pay and medical benefits rights set forth in the attached Employment Related Agreement.”

Prior to Friday’s meeting,  a petition titled ‘Transparency and Justice in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District’ was created by parent Letitia Politi,  a lifelong resident of the area, as well as an educator, who started her career in the Newburgh district. 

The petition circulated online and called for the BOE to terminate Padilla’s  employment contract 

without a cash and benefits payout, and to report the violations to law enforcement authorities.   More than 1,500 signatures were collected. 

Politi said she felt ‘embarrassed’ by the Friday decision. 

“I’d like to thank Ms. Greene, Dr. Henderson and Mr. Stridiron for standing up and doing the right thing, even if it wasn’t the popular thing,” she said. 

Former board of education vice president, Kenneth Copertino, also expressed disappointment on the agreement for Padilla.

 “The money could be better spent for the district,” Copertino said.