NEWBURGH – Horizons-on-the-Hudson teacher Richard Desiderio, who was the whistleblower in the attendance fudging scandal involving Newburgh Free Academy student athletes, has been suspended for a fourth time since 2016.
A letter from Superintendent Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell said he is on administrative paid leave pending further investigation.
The letter, dated September 5, states no reason for the latest suspension.
But, Desiderio noted that he has gone to bat for other individual students who he has felt were wronged.
“If I did some type of looking into it or investigation for lack of better term, and it seems as though it is highly credible, then I am going to leave no stone unturned to make sure I am there and I pursue justice or a positive outcome for a kid. It is impossible for me to walk away,” he told Mid-Hudson News.
Desiderio said district officials have not responded to his concerns for students when he brings them to their attention.
“The district does not disclose information about personnel matters out of respect for the privacy rights of our employees,” said Cassie Sklarz, the school district spokeswoman. “Certainly, if an employee chooses to reveal information from their personnel file (e.g. a prior disciplinary record and/or write ups) to the media, that would be a right legally possessed by the employee. If Mr. Desiderio desires to do that, we could review what he produces for possible comment as to the accuracy of the documents.”
