Rockville Centre district says student safe after Riverside Elementary incident; investigation, retraining underway

Rockville Centre Union Free School District Superintendent Mister Gavin told the board Sept. 4 that a student is safe following an incident at Riverside Elementary School the previous afternoon and that the district has opened a formal investigation.

The district is “conducting a thorough investigation of the incident” and is reviewing supervision practices, Gavin said. He told the board that principal Christopher Zappi and district administrators met with Riverside teachers and staff, and that staff at all schools will be retrained on active supervision practices in the coming days.

The district also said it is strengthening headcount and lineup procedures and reviewing campus security, including fencing and gates. Gavin said district plans are reviewed annually with the district’s security company and with law enforcement; he also noted that district-level safety plans are public on the district website while individual building plans are confidential.

“Once the investigation of this incident has been completed, we will keep you updated of any additional steps to further safeguard our children,” Gavin said. He added, “At this juncture, there's no more information that we can share,” and urged respect for the family’s privacy as the process continues.

Board President Barry opened the meeting by noting the board’s support for Gavin and district administration and reiterating that student safety is the board’s highest priority.

No disciplinary or investigative findings were announced at the meeting. The district did not provide a timeline for the investigation or specify whether outside agencies are participating beyond the local authorities Gavin thanked for their response.

The board will discuss related security and policy items at upcoming meetings; Gavin said more detailed reviews of active supervision protocols and campus fencing will follow as part of the investigation and training updates.