By Alberto Gilman
The Newburgh Enlarged City School District will move into the 2025-2026 school year under new leadership, following a reorganization meeting held Tuesday, July 1.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Onyx Peterson was appointed as acting superintendent after the board suspended Acting Superintendent Dr. Lisa Buon with pay. Buon’s contract is expected to be terminated effective Sept. 29. Her contract had previously been extended through Dec. 31 at a June 24 meeting.
The board’s leadership also shifted, with John Doerre elected president and Mark Levinstein elected vice president. Both had previously served in those roles. Doerre’s nomination passed 6-2, as did Levinstein’s. New trustee Shadé Burks joined returning members Doerre and Levinstein in taking the oath of office at the start of the meeting, administered by District Clerk Matthew McCoy.
The full 2025-2026 Board of Education includes Doerre, Levinstein, Burks, Letitia Politi, Ray Burgarelli, Philip Howard, Thomasina Bello, Christine Bello, and Mackenzie Bousche. Bousche was absent from the meeting. Outgoing trustees Victoria Bousche and Fred Stewart were not re-elected.
In her remarks, Peterson said her focus will be on student-centered leadership.
“My duty as acting superintendent is to protect the interest of this district and above all to prioritize our children,” Peterson said. “Every decision I make is guided by one simple question: Does it serve student growth, safety and achievement?”
Following an executive session, the board returned and approved Peterson’s appointment and Buon’s suspension and contract termination. The meeting also included several personnel moves and annual reappointments.
Administrative Updates
Peterson confirmed that Matteo Doddo will remain principal of Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) North Campus; Susan Valentino will continue at NFA Main; and Karriem Bunce will remain principal of Balmville Elementary School.
The board reinstated several administrative positions effective July 1, including:
• Two Teachers on Special Assignment – School Transformation Instructional Specialists
• Director of Communications
• Director of Humanities
• Director of Literacy
• Director of Middle Level Education
• Director of Secondary STEM
• Director of Languages Other Than English (LOTE)
• Director of Pupil Personnel Services
The board also reinstated two employees and rescinded the prior termination of South Middle School Principal Roderick Phoenix. Sasha Silvermann was approved as CSE/CPSE chairperson for 2025-26, and an addendum agreement was authorized for Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Rohring. These items passed in a 6-0 vote, with both Christine and Thomasina Bello absent.
Board Appointments and Authorizations
McCoy was reappointed as clerk of the board. Other key appointments include:
• Treasurer: Greta Simmons
• Deputy Treasurer: Sally Estafan
• Tax Collector: Cynthia Pinter
• Claims Auditor: Bernice Feest
• Deputy Claims Auditor: Susan Kaplan
• Central Treasurer (Extra-Classroom Activities): Brianna Ward
Legal and Compliance Positions
• General & Labor Counsel: Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert LLP
• Records Access Officer: McCoy
• Records Appeals Officer: Peterson
• DASA Coordinators: Genieve Holder
• Educational Official for Facilities Use: Anibal Velez
• Chief Medical Officer: Dr. Thomas
• Residency Designee: Christina Cloidt
• Purchasing Agent (Acting): Elena Nash-Graham
External auditors, bond counsel, fiscal advisors, asbestos and chemical hygiene officers, and various district-level compliance officers were also approved. Some roles, including the ADA coordinator and 504 compliance officer, remain to be determined.
DASA, CSE, CPSE and 504 Roles
The board approved Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) building liaisons and coordinators for all schools, along with chairpersons for the Committee on Special Education (CSE), Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE), and Section 504.
Among the many named were:
• DASA Coordinators at NFA Main: Deanna Peralta, Ada Campbell, Jaime Diaz, Alicia Smith, Sherida Moore, Kisha Brown
• CSE/CPSE Chairpersons: Gerald Ortiz, Shannon Zaloga, Lisa Boughton, Crystal Santos, among others
• 504 Chairpersons were named for every school, with some roles still pending
District surrogate parents for the school year are Diane Troeller and Carol Maida.
Designations and Authorizations
The board designated its official newspapers as The Mid-Hudson Times, The Times Herald-Record, and The Hudson Valley Press. Official bid notices will be published in The Times Herald-Record.
Bank depositories were named as Manufacturers & Traders Bank, JPMorgan Chase, TD Bank and NYCLASS.
Annual authorizations include:
• Superintendent or designee to certify payrolls
• Superintendent to approve in-state, single-day conference requests
• Treasurer and deputies to sign checks
• Superintendent to approve budget transfers up to $50,000
• Reimbursement for transportation expenses at IRS mileage rate
• Superintendent authorized to apply for grants
Petty cash accounts were re-established for school buildings and the tax office.
Other Actions
All current district policies and the Code of Ethics were re-adopted. Committee assignments and liaisons for the Newburgh Teacher Center will be determined later.
The board also appointed the following as substitute administrators at a rate of $500 per day: Anne Lytle, Maureen Ryan, and Cassandra Barnes. District hearing officers for the 2025-26 school year, approved at $350 per hearing, are Ralph Burts, Sheryl Papageorgantis, Curtis Rhett, and Mauree Ryan.