The auditorium at the Newburgh Free Library was filled to capacity for this board meeting. At the back of the room, people were standing at least three rows deep. The large turnout was to show support for Principal Jackson and the ten Social Workers, whose positions were to be eliminated. Dropping the principal position held by Jackson was an actual agenda item. The elimination of Social Worker positions had been announced at a Budget Workshop meeting but was technically a non-agenda item.

Ironically, the Social Workers received official recognition for their work at the beginning of the meeting.

Communication was strictly one way throughout the meeting. During the two public comment times, a total of 21 people spoke. Each received the same rote response ("your comments have been recorded and will be responded to ..."). At other times, the Board went about it's business with no expression of priorites, costs, or reasoning for the public to make sense of. The sole exception was when Board Member Bowles offered a clarification that the Junior High School Principal position (held by Jackson) had to be abolished because the district will no longer have Junior High Schools next year.

Abolishing the Social Worker positions is part of a reorganization that involves creating new positions. Before the Board votes to abolish the Social Worker positions at the April BOE meeting, it might be helpful for community relations to explain how the reorganization is intended to benefit the district.

Click for the meeeting notes from the regular Board of Education meeting in March.