New details: Newburgh school district names New Rochelle educator as superintendent

Lana Bellamy, Times Herald-Record
·3 min read

CITY OF NEWBURGH – After a national search and six months without a permanent superintendent, Newburgh schools have a new leader.

Jackielyn Manning Campbell, an assistant superintendent in the New Rochelle school district, will be Newburgh's superintendent of schools. She officially starts July 1.

The school board approved her appointment during a brief special meeting on Thursday evening.

"I'm excited to begin the most important journey of my education career as the superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District," Manning Campbell told the school board.

Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell was named Superintendent of Schools for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District at a special meeting of the Board of Education held Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell was named Superintendent of Schools for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District at a special meeting of the Board of Education held Thursday, May 26, 2022.

"I am affirming to you tonight that our district will continue our commitment to equity, transparency, access to services and programs for all students in our district with fiscal responsibility and overall excellence," she continued.

She attended Thursday's meeting at the Board of Education on Grand Street with her family, who presented her with a bouquet of flowers at the end of her remarks.

Her employment contract with Newburgh was approved for a four-year term, running through June 30, 2026.

Manning Campbell's salary was set at $270,000 for her first year and may be adjusted based on annual evaluations and pay reviews, according to a copy of her contract attached to the school board's agenda.

Newburgh's former superintendent of schools, Roberto Padilla, had not formally worked in the district since the beginning of the school year.
Newburgh's former superintendent of schools, Roberto Padilla, had not formally worked in the district since the beginning of the school year.

A provision in the contract allows the board to terminate the agreement if the superintendent is found guilty of "misconduct, insubordination, immoral character, inefficiency, incompetency, neglect of duty."

Six months ago, on Dec. 31, Newburgh schools essentially split with its former superintendent Roberto Padilla through a separation agreement that kept his job title intact but placed him on leave. Under the agreement, he could keep his full salary and benefits through 2023.

Padilla had been the schools' chief since 2014. His departure came after a months-long suspension at the start of this school year while allegations of sexual harassment were investigated. When the probes ended, the district issued a statement saying there were "inconsistent conclusions" about what happened but that, ultimately, the district and Padilla would part ways. Padilla denied wrongdoing.

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Ed Forgit served as acting superintendent and then interim superintendent this year.
Ed Forgit served as acting superintendent and then interim superintendent this year.

Deputy Superintendent Ed Forgit led the district as acting superintendent while Padilla was suspended and was named interim superintendent after his departure.

New leader

Manning Campbell has 24 years of experience in education in school districts that include: New York City, Mount Vernon, White Plains and New Rochelle.

She's served as a teacher and principal and held different central administration roles, according to a news release from Newburgh schools.

She has a doctorate in executive leadership from St. John Fisher College and a master's degree in administration and supervision from Mercy College, according to the release.

"It is a new day for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District," school board president Carole Mineo said in a statement in the release. "We appreciate the expertise of the national search firm who are experts in this area and helped guide this extensive process.

Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY, on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.
Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY, on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.

"We are thankful to those who participated in the various forums that provided the desired characteristics from which our Board of Education members were able to narrow our focus during the search," her statement continued.

The district conducted a national search for its superintendent using the executive search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates.

"Tonight marks the beginning of an exciting moment in this city, in our district," Manning Campbell said at Thursday's meeting.

Lana Bellamy covers Newburgh for the Times Herald-Record and USA Today Network. Reach her at lbellamy@th-record.com.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Jackielyn Manning Campbell named Newburgh schools superintendent