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Members of the Poughkeepsie Public School Administrators Association (PPSAA) have expressed a vote of "no confidence" in the newly appointed Superintendent Gregory Mott. The decision was made in July and presented to Board of Education President Bob Creedon on July 15. During a Board of Education meeting, Dr. David Scott, principal of Clinton Elementary School and PPSAA member, publicly announced the vote, stating that administrators from the district's seven schools lack confidence in Mott's leadership. Mott assumed his role as superintendent on July 1, 2025, succeeding Dr. Eric Rosser.
The union's concerns include Mott's proposal to create a new central office position in human resources and changes to the way teachers are observed and evaluated. Dr. Scott criticized these moves, arguing that they contradict each other and undermine the role of school administrators in the educational process. The new position comes after the elimination of three central administration roles in the school budget.
Despite the vote, Superintendent Mott addressed the concerns, emphasizing that his restructuring plan is not intended to override the authority of instructional staff, particularly building administrators. He stated, "There is no more important position than building leadership."
The Poughkeepsie City School District is expected to face ongoing discussions as administrators and the board seek to address these issues collaboratively.