Mediator Recommendation Represents a Fair Agreement Between District and Teachers’ Union

As many in our community are aware, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and the Newburgh Teachers’ Association (NTA) have been engaged in ongoing mediation to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. 

On Monday, November 10, a third-party mediator—appointed to help guide both sides toward resolution—recommended an agreement. The district bargaining team has accepted in full. Unfortunately, the NTA has chosen not to accept the mediator’s recommended agreement at this time.

I want to take this opportunity to share accurate information and reaffirm the district’s deep respect and appreciation for our educators. Our teachers are vital to the success of our students, and we remain committed to supporting them through competitive compensation, strong benefits, and professional growth opportunities.

Today, NECSD teachers receive a comprehensive compensation package that is among the most competitive in the county. Additionally, the district covers 100 percent of employee health insurance benefits at retirement, and teachers become eligible for full retirement health benefits after 10 years of service in the district. We also fully fund professional development opportunities, many of which are taught by our own teachers, who are compensated for sharing their expertise. These are significant commitments that reflect the value we place in our people. 

At the same time, we must recognize the broader economic and fiscal realities affecting school districts across New York State. Personnel costs for our teaching staff alone represent nearly half of the district’s total budget. Like many districts, we face uncertainty regarding future state and federal funding levels. The district's bargaining team is committed to negotiating responsibly, balancing the needs of our teachers and staff with the need to maintain the long-term financial health of our schools. 

During this process, some have raised questions about staffing levels in our district. Over the past several years, enrollment has declined, resulting in a natural reduction in the total number of teachers through attrition and retirement incentives. Throughout this time, we have remained consistent in ensuring that staffing decisions are driven by student and programmatic needs and that class sizes remain well below the national average. Despite the overall decline, we have continued to strengthen support for our students by adding approximately 70 positions within the NTA this year, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to student learning and success—going from approximately 1,150 to 965 to 1034.

We understand that collective bargaining can be challenging, and it’s natural for emotions to run high. However, it is critical that our community have access to accurate information. The district's bargaining team remains fully committed to the mediation process and to the guidance of the third-party mediator. We hope the NTA will join us in accepting the mediator’s recommendation so we can move forward together.

Our teachers make a profound difference in the lives of our students every day. We remain optimistic that through continued dialogue, respect, and collaboration, we can reach an agreement that honors that work while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our district.

Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell is Superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.
Mr. John Doerre is President of the Board of Education.

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!