Parents press board on bullying and special‑education transport safety as health and safety upgrades proceed

Several Riverhead parents and community members used the April 9 Board of Education meeting to press district leaders on student safety issues — including how the district handles bullying complaints and whether students with disabilities are secured correctly on buses — while district staff described recent security upgrades and planned improvements.

Public commenters called for clearer and faster responses when incidents are reported. One parent asked whether investigations must wait for recurring incidents before a DASA complaint is filed; a district official replied that the district does have a bullying policy under the Dignity for All Students Act and that an investigation can begin immediately and a DASA report may be filed after a single incident.

Several speakers described concerns about physical handling of students and said they wanted stronger district responses. The board’s reply noted that specific situations require case‑by‑case investigation and invited complainants to follow up with building principals or central office staff so the district can investigate and take appropriate action.

Separately, a Riverhead resident and long‑time taxpayer urged the board to address safety for students who require specialized seating or restraints on school buses. She said she had raised concerns previously and asked the district to review training and equipment for securement of wheelchairs and passengers. The district acknowledged the concern and said staff had been working through multiple levels of review; the commenter provided contact information to district officials to continue follow up.

Health & Safety Committee updates presented to the board described recent security system work and other safety items. Security Director Terry Culhane reported that the district completed integration work with the Rave emergency notification system: strobe lights, the public‑address system and classroom smart boards are now synced to display a lockdown message during emergencies, and emergency calls can be placed through the Rave app. Culhane also reported that fire alarms had been inspected and mapped, and that the district is awaiting fire marshal inspections. He said vape alerts at the high school have declined and the district is exploring a new online, certificate‑based vape‑prevention program to…