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The Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) has appointed Mike Tuttle, a former Middletown Schools Assistant Superintendent of Administration, as the new Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business. This decision follows the recent removal of Margarita Lekaj, the previous finance chief, and Treasurer Deborah Long. Both were escorted out of the district offices last week, but the reasons for their departure remain undisclosed by PCSD Superintendent Greg Mott.
Tuttle, who brings over 30 years of experience in educational administration, will be compensated at a rate of $200,000 per year. According to Mid-Hudson News, Tuttle's expertise lies in strategic planning, fiscal management, and addressing the technology needs of school districts similar in size to Poughkeepsie.
Before joining PCSD, Tuttle was the second-highest paid employee in the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, earning $284,447 in 2023. He left Middletown in August 2025 and subsequently filed a lawsuit against the district in December, claiming his contract was not renewed due to his testimony in an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) matter against the district. The lawsuit is still pending.
The appointment of Tuttle comes amid ongoing concerns about payroll discrepancies at PCSD, which reportedly fell under Lekaj’s responsibilities. The district has not yet addressed these issues publicly.