Wednesday, May 13, 2026

The High Cost of Getting It Wrong

The Hudson City School District Board of Education is now in the process of selecting a new Superintendent of Schools. While that process is ongoing, it is useful to review the outcome of the board's last effort at hiring a superintendent.

Dr. Juliette Pennyman, who was selected in August 2023resigned in August 2025, after serving as superintendent for just two years. 


Pennyman had a contract to serve as HCSD Superintendent of Schools from September 7, 2023, to August 31, 2026. Although it appeared that Pennyman had resigned, Gossips recently learned that the Board of Education may have bought Pennyman out of her contract. According to the Separation Agreement between Pennyman and the BOE, upon her departure, she received a lump sum payment of $197,107.72 and a $35,000 contribution to her tax-sheltered annuity account.

Our message to the BOE: This time, please choose wisely.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK

5 comments:

  1. Just like i said. Golden parachute.

    Send a message, vote “No” May 19th!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your vote on the budget has zero impact on the way the BOE handles a superintendent's departure. And if she had buyout or evergreen clause, their hands may have been tied. So as Carole noted, choose wisely, and maybe a more restrictive contract.

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  2. It isn’t as much as no as it should be questioning the BOE.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That cost is minor compared to the disruption to the school -- kids learning! -- in teacher resignations, discipline chaos, and administrative turnover. It is past time for a forensic audit -- which I asked for more than a year ago. But since the BOE is implicated in this massive misspending, it's doubtful they'll want one.

    ReplyDelete