The Croton-Harmon Board of Education faced a rare moment of public dissent this week, highlighting a growing tension between administrative succession planning and the strict adherence to district hiring policies. At the February 12 meeting, the board voted to appoint Dr. Laura Dubac, the current high school principal, as the next Assistant Superintendent. The appointment, which comes with a salary of $238,000 and a three-year probationary term, is effective July 1, 2026. She will replace John Griffith, who is retiring after eight years in the position [Board Of Trustees 2026-01-14](/article/22). However, the unanimous consensus the board anticipated was broken when Trustee Alison announced she would abstain from the vote. Alison argued that the process used to select Dr. Dubac violated district Policy 9230, which governs recruiting and hiring. "For this position superintendent Walker did not conduct a competitive search process," {{quote:712}} Alison said, reading from the policy adopted in 1994 and last revised in 2014. "I believe it is important for us to consider the recruiting and hiring process to reach this recommendation." {{quote:840}} **A Policy Under the Microscope** The dispute centers on Policy 9230, a document Board President Brendan Walker later noted was adopted in 1994 and revised a decade ago. Alison argued that the policy explicitly requires a competitive search for senior-level positions, including posting on job boards like OLAS and the New York Times, and convening a diverse search committee. "My interpretation of policy 9230 is that the expectation is that there will be a competitive search process that recruits from several sources and that our job as BOE members is to ensure that we are following standard recruiting and hiring practices," {{quote:712}} Alison stated. She expressed concern that without these steps, the board risks acting as a "rubber stamp" rather than a deliberative body [Planning Board 2025-10-07](/article/52). Alison clarified that her objection was not about Dr. Dubac’s qualifications. "I cannot ignore the process since I do not believe the superintendent has conducted a recruiting process that provides all the data I would need... I will abstain from this vote," {{quote:712}} she said. "I want to reiterate this is not a comment on Dr. Dubac for whom I have very much a tremendous amount of deep respect and confidence." {{quote:1065}} **Internal Succession vs. External Search** Superintendent Walker defended the recommendation by highlighting the luxury of time provided by Griffith’s early retirement notice. He emphasized that Dr. Dubac has been a key architect of the district’s current curriculum and instructional strategies during her seven years as principal. "One of the other gifts that he gave us was telling us well in advance of his plans... that allowed us to be in a position that most districts aren't," {{quote:583}} Walker said. "So, it's my pleasure and honor to recommend Dr. Laura Dubac to be the next assistant superintendent in the district." {{quote:645}} Board President Brendan Walker, who is also the Superintendent's brother, pushed back against the suggestion that the board was rushing the process. He explained that Dr. Dubac had met with board leadership and individual groups of trustees prior to the meeting to gauge support. He expressed surprise at the public nature of Alison’s objection. "As a board, we kind of operate under the idea that there aren't going to be surprises or grandstanding at public meetings," {{quote:1095}} Walker said. {{quote:1140}} **An Outdated Policy?** In response to the conflict, Walker suggested that the policy itself—and not the process—was the problem. He argued that the 1994 policy does not adequately account for modern "succession planning" {{quote:1222}} and the value of retaining internal talent. "I have to say based off of my conversation with Dr. Dubac... she's a person who's going to be ready on day one of her accession to this position," {{quote:1222}} Walker said. He noted that the community has previously asked for a renewed focus on curriculum continuity. Walker highlighted that the policy places a high value on retaining qualified staff, suggesting that internal pathways to leadership are a valid component of a "high quality recruiting and hiring program." {{quote:712}} "The policy was adopted on November 14th, 1994. It's more than 20 years old... and it was revised 2014. So that's 12 years. So it's obviously time to take a look at it," {{quote:1415}} Walker said. {{quote:1400}} He thanked Alison for raising the issue, acknowledging that the board rarely reviews such specific procedural policies unless a dispute arises. **Leadership Transitions Continue** With Dr. Dubac’s promotion, the district must now manage a second major leadership transition. The high school principal position she vacates will need to be filled. Superintendent Walker indicated that the district will now turn its attention to recruiting for that role, though details on whether a competitive search will be used for the principalship were not explicitly outlined Tuesday. **Celebrating Student Excellence** Before the contentious vote, the meeting began on a celebratory note with the recognition of the Class of 2026’s top scholars. Dr. Dubac, in her current role as principal, introduced Valedictorian Jeremy Pollock and Salutatorian Maya Sebastian. Pollock was recognized for his research on the use of AI models to predict DNA binding of proteins for drug discovery, work that took him to the European Bioinformatics Institute in Cambridge, England. Sebastian was honored for her engineering research, specifically the use of 3D printing to fabricate prosthetic sockets, and her leadership in the Engineering Club. Both students were applauded for their intellectual curiosity and perseverance. Trustees and administrators congratulated the students and their families before the meeting pivoted to the administrative business [Board Of Trustees 2026-02-04](/article/14). **What’s Next** The motion to appoint Dr. Dubac ultimately carried, with Alison abstaining. She will assume her new duties on July 1. The board’s Policy Committee is likely to review Policy 9230 in the coming months. Residents interested in the balance between internal promotions and competitive searches can attend upcoming board meetings or review the policy manual on the district website. The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for March. --- **References used in this article:** - [Planning Board — 2025-10-07](/article/52) · Planning Board OKs South Riverside Avenue Landscaping Changes - [Board Of Trustees — 2026-01-14](/article/22) · Croton DPW boss urges board to let bigger cities test new tech first - [Board Of Trustees — 2026-02-04](/article/14) · Croton Trustees Honor Volunteer EMS, Adopt Tax Cap Override