In a private meeting that lasted deep into Friday night, the Newburgh School Board voted to suspend a district employee, one week after voting to hire an investigator to look into claims of misconduct by an employee.

Teachers and other staff have been slow to learn about the developments since they are still on their summer vacations, multiple district employees told Spectrum News 1, and many were shocked to learn of the suspension Friday night.

Board members had little to say following the three-hour meeting.

“We’re just waiting for the truth to come out, just waiting for the investigator to get back to us,” board member Phil Howard said over the phone Friday when asked to describe the overall mood of the private conversations. “We have nothing to be stressed out about until the investigator makes his report.”

He referred all other questions to the board president and district clerk.

Some board members, including Howard, were not present for the final vote. Howard did respond to a message afterward seeking his reason for not voting.

Six of the nine board members voted 6 to 0 to suspend the employee.

According to policy mentioned by the clerk ahead of the vote, the accused employee’s access to district email and cell phone service will be cut while the investigation proceeds.

Like Howard, board member Darren Stridiron did not offer details of the closed meeting. Stridiron did say, though, he will make a speech at the August 24 school board meeting “as a parent.”

District Superintendent Roberto Padilla was not at Friday’s meeting and did not respond to messages seeking comment.