Imagine you’ve dedicated your life to something, watching it grow and change, through good times and bad. That’s precisely the perspective R.L. Bennett, a retired teacher from Newburgh, shares with us. Having been a steadfast observer of the Newburgh school district for over two decades, attending countless Board of Education meetings and following every twist and turn, Bennett’s voice carries the weight of deep experience and genuine concern. This isn’t just an opinion piece; it’s a heartfelt plea from someone who has seen the dedicated work of educators and administrators firsthand, someone who understands the nuanced challenges of running a school system. What’s unfolding now, as new candidates vie for spots on the Board, is deeply troubling to Bennett. They see a dangerous shift, where the focus isn’t on the well-being of students or the