Several community members used the board’s public-comment period on Sept. 4 to press the Rockville Centre Union Free School District on perimeter security, incidents of student elopement, building code compliance and transportation costs.

Jeff Greenfield, identifying himself as a “citizen taxpayer,” said he observed maintenance staff landscaping on a Sunday and asked the district to be mindful of overtime spending. He also asked for updates on school bus routes and costs after the district’s reported increased charges from BOCES.

Pauline Gipney, a parent of two district students, described repeated elopement and safety concerns for her son, who she said is on the autism spectrum. Gipney said she had raised those concerns with school staff and that she felt marginalized until another family went to the media, adding that similar elopement concerns persist for her middle-school son who receives 1:1 support.

Andrew O’Brien, who described himself as in the building inspection business and a firefighter, questioned recent decisions about temporary structures and perimeter fencing at district facilities. He said a wooden structure near the high school was judged illegal by a local fire representative and required intervention from state authorities, and he criticized replacement of older, heavier fencing with lower-gauge materials that he said will not stop a vehicle from entering fields.

Superintendent Gavin acknowledged a building-inspection issue the district is addressing: “We have 1 issue that we have to work on, which was an additional structure that we put too close to our fire. And so we're working on that with the building department as we speak,” he said.

Gavin also told one commenter that he would follow up on bathroom-related questions and transportation updates, but the transcript does not include a detailed timeline or financial figures related to BOCES charges or any corrective schedule for fencing or structures.

The public comment period closed without formal board action on these matters; speakers asked for follow-up and more direct engagement with families on safety concerns.