the staff of the Ridgewood blog
HACKENSACK, NJ — A major legal battle is unfolding in the Hackensack Public School District as the former head of Human Resources claims she was illegally fired for being a whistleblower and an “ally” of the ousted superintendent.
Yesenia Budhu-Howell, the district’s former Executive Director of HR, has filed a lawsuit against the Hackensack Board of Education. The suit alleges that her termination was not based on performance, but was instead a “vendetta” carried out by board members looking to purge the administration of anyone associated with former Superintendent Thomas McBryde.
Whistleblowing and “Illegal Ultimatums”
The lawsuit paints a picture of a fractured relationship between the school board and its top administrators. According to Budhu-Howell, the trouble began when she reported several alleged ethics violations by board members:
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The RICE Notice Violation: Howell claims the board discussed her employment in October 2024 without issuing a mandatory “RICE notice,” a legal requirement in New Jersey that gives employees the right to request a public discussion of their job status.
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The “Coerced” Hire: The suit alleges that in December 2024, Board Vice President Mark Stein handed Howell a resume and attempted to coerce her into hiring the candidate.
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The Investigation: When Howell reported the incident to Superintendent McBryde, an investigation followed. The suit claims the board attorney eventually issued an opinion that Stein had violated state ethics laws.
Howell argues that her refusal to “play ball” with the board’s hiring demands made her a target.
The Purge of “Non-Residents”
A central theme of the lawsuit is the board’s alleged desire to remove administrators who did not live in Hackensack. Howell claims board members repeatedly expressed a wish to replace “non-Hackensack residents” with local hires.
Despite “stellar evaluations” and a recommendation for reappointment by Superintendent McBryde in May 2025, the board refused to approve Howell’s contract. The suit further alleges that board members gave McBryde an “illegal ultimatum”: fire Howell or face termination himself.
McBryde was suspended just weeks later, and Howell was officially notified of her non-renewal.
The Board Strikes Back: “Claims are a Farce”
The Hackensack Board of Education is fighting back against the allegations. Board Attorney Jason Nunnermacker issued a sharp rebuttal, calling Howell’s claims a “farce.”
The Board’s Defense Includes:
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Performance Issues: The board maintains that Howell was let go simply because she “could not adequately perform her job responsibilities.”
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Diversity Record: Nunnermacker pointed out that the district’s leadership remains diverse, consisting mostly of women from various cultural backgrounds who live outside the city—undermining the claim of a “resident-only” purge.
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Confidence in Evidence: The board stated it looks forward to producing evidence in court that will disprove Howell’s version of events.
What’s Next?
The lawsuit seeks damages for emotional distress, breach of contract, and violations of New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), commonly known as the whistleblower law.
As the Hackensack school district moves forward under Acting Superintendent Andrea Oates-Parchment, this case remains a significant cloud over the administration, highlighting the intense political friction often found in local school governance.
Case Timeline: Hackensack BOE vs. Budhu-Howell
| Date | Event |
| Oct 2024 | Alleged RICE notice violation during board meeting. |
| Dec 2024 | Alleged attempt by Board VP to coerce a local hire. |
| May 14, 2025 | Board rejects reappointment of Howell and other administrators. |
| June 2025 | Superintendent McBryde suspended; Acting Supt. Parchment takes over. |
| Dec 2025 | Howell files formal whistleblower and retaliation lawsuit. |
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I can assure you that this is not the first time that this has happened in a school district in Bergen County. The same thing happened to me. They settled my lawsuit because of all the evidence I had against them and made me sign a non-disclosure. I just wanted it to be over but that being said hindsight, I should have gone to court so everyone would know how crooked the kings in school districts are! Unfortunately, school districts are full of kings and queens who will say “off with your head” if you don’t follow their lead and the kids are collateral damage..