Parents and faculty press board for clarity on superintendent search, raise equity and representation questions

Community members and the Riverhead Classroom Faculty Association used the Oct. 29 board meeting to press the board for transparency and representation in the district’s superintendent search.

RCFA leadership praised staff and told trustees the district needs a leader who will support rather than "fix" Riverhead. "We do not need someone to fix us. We need someone to support us," the RCFA president said, urging the board to consider candidates who will learn the district’s context and work with the community.

During public comment, resident Kimberly Wilder, who identified herself as coordinator of Riverhead Area School Info and a parent, asked whether a search committee has been formed, whether interim administrators mentioned as involved in interviews (miss Petisic and Dr. Cardasano) are recused from candidacy, whether the position has been advertised or candidates are in mind, and whether people of color or Latino community members will be included in interview rooms. Wilder said she previously submitted the questions and received a brief clerk response stating Eastern Suffolk BOCES had been secured to conduct the search and requested more detailed answers.

The board acknowledged the questions; the clerk’s response (as read into the record) said Eastern Suffolk BOCES was secured to conduct the superintendent search and that information would be shared with the community in the coming months. No procedural action or vote on the search process was taken at the meeting.

The public comments underscore community interest in the search timeline, committee composition and representation in interviews as the board proceeds toward selecting a superintendent.