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Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Association.
“I think obviously there’s changes that
need to happen in the district not only
from a parent perspective but from a
taxpayer perspective,” said Henderson.
“Having family and friends that work in
the district there’s not a lot of confidence
that the board will do the right thing. We
need to restore credibility in the district.
There has been a series of negative media
that have a lot of truth to them. There’s
so many issues that we need to improve.”
Henderson’s top two priorities include
school safety, he wants to ensure that
every student and teacher have a safe
and positive learning environment. His
second priority includes addressing
chronic absenteeism from pre-k through
high school. He sees the issue as bringing
down the reputation of the district and
hurting students chances in competing
for college or careers down the line.
He looks to improve the communication
and relationships with educators in the
district and ensure that all students
receive an equal education regardless of
their background. He also would like to
take a look at the fiscal responsibility of
the budget and expand extracurricular
activities to prepare students for college
and careers.
Henderson has a daughter attending
Balmville Elementary School.
Carol L. Maida
Carol Maida has spent her entire life in
the district as a student, parent, teacher,
and grandparent. She was a teacher for 35
years before retiring.
“I think it’s wonderful that we have so
many diverse programs in Newburgh. I
would like to see that expand and continue
because we are very fortunate as a city
school district and we apply for many
programs and have done great with those
and I would like to expand and get more
State Ed Dept begins investigation
By KATELYN CORDERO
[email protected]
The New York State Department of Education began an
audit on May 13, 2019 to look at issues deriving from a Grand
Jury Report released on the Newburgh Enlarged City School
District. In a letter sent to Superintendent Roberto Padilla, the
audit will cover attendance records and to determine if the
credit recovery process is in compliance.
“The objectives of this audit are to determine if internal
controls are appropriately designed and operating effectively
to ensure the adequacy and reliability of student attendance
records and to determine if the credit recovery process is in
compliance with New York State regulations. The scope of our
audit will cover the period July 1, 2017, through April 30, 2019,”
wrote Director of Office of Audit Services, David Sears.
The Grand Jury Report with information from an
investigation by the Orange County District Attorney
recommended that no criminal charges be made, but discovered
a failing system and created recommendations to remediate
the issues discovered. The report found a complete disregard
for attendance policies when it comes to student athletes, and
misuses of the APEX system when it comes to credit recovery.
for our diverse population,” said Maida.
Maida has watched the district through
the years from all angles, and she is
looking to give back to the community she
spent her life in, and do good with other
people on the board.
One of Maida’s priorities is restoring
the trust level in the community, to open
lines of communication for the district to
become more in tune with the community.
Maida is looking to create an
atmosphere where people can trust one
another in the school system. She wants
to ensure that the pure motives to do
what’s best for students and teachers
is not lost. She wants to enforce a high
The district held a special meeting on Tuesday to outline
some of the work it has done since the release of the report
including hiring extra attendance staff to monitor attendance
more closely, change in attendance policy with stricter rules
on creating excused absences and the Board of Education
voted to suspend the use of APEX learning program. They will
look at evening classes and other options for credit recovery
opportunities.
“We have been fully transparent in our collaboration with
the New York State Department of Education. We look forward
to the guidance they can provide as experts in education. We
welcome the audit from New York State and will continue to
work together to improve the quality of education that we
offer our scholars, faculty, staff, and community,” said Dr.
Roberto Padilla, Superintendent for the Newburgh Enlarged
City School District.
The state involvement is long awaited by many in the
district. Whistleblower Richard Desiderio wrote to the state
numerous times before and after the release of the grand jury
report asking for an investigation. District Attorney David
Hoovler called on the state to get involved when he released the
report in April.
standard for students in the district.
One of Maida’s priorities is focusing on
the literacy assistance to help children
in need. She believes a focus on early
literacy skills can take on the issue of
lack of reading skills.
Maida has served on various committees
on curriculum and reading district wide,
she also taught in-service literacy and
was a co-chair for instructional support.
Polling Locations
Voting will take place on May 21, 2019.
City of Newburgh’s wards will go to the
following schools: First Ward will vote
at Horizons-on-the-Hudson, Second Ward
will go to South Middle School, Third
and Fourth Ward will vote at NFA Main
Campus.
Town of Newburgh districts will go to
the following schools: Districts 1,2,14,15
will go to Balmville School; Districts 13,
16, 17, 18, 24, 25 will go to Fostertown;
Districts 3-6, 8-12, 20, 22, 23, 27 will go to
Meadow Hill School.
Town of New Windsor Polling places
will go to the following schools: Districts
1-6 will go to New Windsor School;
Districts 7-12, and 17 will go to Vails Gate
School; Districts 13-15, 18, 19, 22, will go to
Temple Hill School.
Capital bond, library funding, busing on ballot
The Board of Education Elections is not the only thing
to keep an eye out for in the Newburgh Enlarged City
School District vote this month. On the line is the Capital
Bond that has been talked about to no end, but one key
thing to note is how the bond will be structured on the
ballot on May 21.
The ballot will have five propositions. The first two are
votes for the district budget and Newburgh Free Library
budget. Proposition three is a vote to continue bussing
private school students up to 18 miles outside the district
rather than 15 miles.
The bond will be propositions four and five, one
including the CTE building with repairs and additions to
various buildings in the district and the other with a full
upgrade to the HVAC systems across the district.
Proposition
four
includes
curriculum-based
renovations and improvements based on the building
condition inspection survey. This proposition also
includes an addition and renovation to the cafeteria in
Heritage Middle School and a 16,585 sq ft addition to the
New Windsor School. The addition in the New Windsor
School will include new classrooms, a new gym, new
music and art classrooms, and a new parking lot with the
relocation of the existing playground.
Vails Gate Steam Academy will receive a new addition
with new classrooms, a renovation, and addition to the
nurses’ suite with a new traffic loop.
The biggest price tag on the list for proposition four
is the CTE building, a plan that will house technical
training programs in a building next to the existing
Newburgh Free Academy Main Campus. The two would
be connected with a walkway going from one building to
the next.
This proposition will cost $198 million with $128
contributed by the state, $10 million pulled from the
capital reserve and $60 million covered by taxpayers.
Proposition five is an overhaul to the districts air-
quality and central air conditioning systems which will
cost $60 million. $45 million will be covered by the state
and $14 million will be covered by the taxpayer.
Estimated impact on the average taxpayer with a
house valued at $100,000 for proposition four and five
put together will cost taxpayers $1.82 a month, with no
impact for eight years. Individually proposition four will
cost taxpayers with homes valued at $100,000 an average
of $.98 a month and $.84 a month for proposition five.
Another component to look at when heading into
poll sites later this month is a proposition for bussing
students 18 miles outside the district. Anywhere between
230 to 250 children attending private schools more than 15
miles outside the district will be affected. Those students
will have to be absorbed back into the district or they will
have to find other modes of transportation.