Suspended Hackensack School Chief Collected $200K+ in NYC Consulting Fees
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, Former Hackensack Public Schools Superintendent Thomas McBryde Jr.—who was suspended in June 2025 amidst a massive district financial crisis—is facing renewed scrutiny after records revealed his private firm earned more than $200,000 consulting for New York City schools.
Public records from Checkbook NYC show McBryde’s company, McBryde Consulting Group LLC, received over 70 payments from the New York City Department of Education between October 2022 and July 2026. The vast majority of these payments were collected while he was under contract with Hackensack, as well as during his ongoing administrative leave.
Key Financials: Breakdown of Consulting Payments
According to public financial tracking data:
Alleged Contract Violations & District Lawsuit
The revelations came to light via reporting by veteran journalist Susan Edelman on her Substack. Hackensack Board of Education attorney Jason Nunnermacker noted the school board was never given written notice of McBryde’s side business, despite explicit employment contract clauses:
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Full-Time Devotion Clause: Under his Dec. 12, 2023 contract, McBryde agreed to “devote the superintendent’s full time, skills, labor and attention to this employment.”
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Prior Consent Requirement: The agreement prohibited taking compensated consultative work, speaking engagements, or professional duties without prior written notice to the board.
The $17 Million Budget Shortfall
The moonlighting revelations arrive as Hackensack Public Schools grapples with a $17 million budget deficit discovered in January 2025. That same month, the school board filed a lawsuit against McBryde, alleging he worsened the deficit by:
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Approving payments to vendors for services never delivered.
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Creating and filling dozens of unauthorized district positions.
The lawsuit seeks damages for breach of contract and aims to recover more than $250,000 paid out to unapproved vendors.
What’s Next for Hackensack Public Schools?
In July 2026, the Hackensack Board of Education voted not to renew McBryde’s contract, which officially concludes on June 30, 2027.
As the legal proceedings enter the discovery phase, district attorneys plan to fully investigate the consulting records and incorporate any newly uncovered contract violations into their active lawsuit.
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