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Community member says graphic assembly videos distressed students; district pledges review
Summary
A caller told the West Islip board that graphic drunk-driving videos shown at a high-school assembly left about 50 students crying and were shown without adequate warning; Superintendent Dr. Romanelli said administrators will review materials and follow up.
During public comment, caller William Harvey told the board he lost his father in an alcohol-related traffic crash and said a recent high-school assembly about drunk driving included graphic videos that were shown without prior warning to students or guidance counselors. "An estimate, 50 students left the auditorium crying," Harvey said, and he urged the district to review how outside presenters and materials are vetted.
Dr. Romanelli thanked Harvey for sharing his personal experience and said the administration will review the high-school’s practices for vetting outside presenters and materials. "I can assure you that we'll certainly have a follow-up discussion about our practices and materials," he said, adding the district will consider guidance-counselor notification and how to support students who view such content.
Board members expressed sympathy and said they would work with the administration to ensure appropriate review processes are in place for future outside presentations. The transcript records the public comment and the administration’s commitment to follow up; no formal policy change or disciplinary action was announced at the meeting.
