First State of School address Saturday in Hempstead

The Hempstead School District will hold its first State of the School District address Saturday.

Schools Superintendent Susan Johnson is expected to host the meeting at 10 a.m. in the Hempstead High School Auditorium, 201 President St. in Hempstead, according to a flier distributed at the March 21 school board meeting.

Last month, the state Education Department denied a request by the school district for a waiver for Johnson — part of the process required by law to employ certain retirees.

Johnson, 60, who returned to the position she held twice previously after former Superintendent Patricia Garcia abruptly departed in November, has been drawing a $100,000-plus state pension and needed a state waiver to be paid more than $30,000 because she is younger than 65. Johnson’s agreement with the district called for her to make $210,000 through June 30 — less than seven months.

The low-performing district has been plagued by a revolving door of leadership. Johnson’s hiring was Hempstead’s seventh change of superintendents in eight years.

District officials have declined to comment about the waiver denial and have been silent about Johnson’s future with the district.