Embattled Newburgh Schools Superintendent Roberto Padilla has resigned, but will remain on the school district’s payroll for up to two more years, according to an agreement signed by Padilla and approved by the school board in a 6-3 vote on Friday.

The "employment related agreement" states that Padilla will take a “leave of absence” with full pay and benefits beginning Jan. 1, 2022 through Nov. 30, 2023, unless Padilla secures a job elsewhere, and he will submit an “irrevocable letter of resignation.”

Padilla is scheduled in 2022 for a $30,000 raise that will bring his salary to $282,000 a year. He will continue to receive salary and benefits worth over $1,000 per day until his resignation.

What You Need To Know

  • The employment-related agreement states Superintendent Roberto Padilla would take a leave of absence with full pay and benefits Jan. 1, 2022 through Nov. 30, 2023, and submit an “irrevocable letter of resignation”

  • Attached to the agreement was a letter from Padilla informing district clerk that his resignation will be effective Nov. 30, and an unsigned statement attributable to the school district

  • The school board will vote on whether to approve the agreement during a special meeting at noon on New Year’s Eve

“The District and Employee agree that, the parties are desirous of resolving their differences and avoiding costly and disruptive litigation,” the document begins, referring to a potentially lengthy court process stemming from a harassment allegation made against Padilla.

Padilla was accused of violating federal statutes that govern discrimination and harassment following an educators’ conference in August in San Diego, according to the agreement.

Spectrum News 1 has filed a public records request seeking reports and emails related to the investigations into complaints allegedly made by two district employees who attended the conference.

The school board hired investigators to look into the claims and suspended Padilla the following week, though at the time, board members identified him only as a district administrator.

Attached to the agreement were a letter from Padilla informing district clerk that his resignation would be effective Nov. 30, and an unsigned statement attributable to the school district.

“Dr. Padilla denied the allegations against him, and several witnesses who were interviewed expressed their views that no wrongdoing occurred,” the statement read. “It is undisputed that the allegations would not constitute the elements of any crime and the allegations might not constitute sufficient grounds to set aside Dr. Padilla’s employment contract.”

Padilla has dealt with scandal before.

He was presiding over Newburgh schools leading up to 2019, when Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler released a report that found district employees fixed grades and allowed academically ineligible athletes to continue to compete.

Padilla was not charged by authorities nor disciplined by the school board over the cheating accusations.

This article was updated at 2:30 p.m. Friday with the result of the school board vote.