Parents and daycare operators told the Riverhead Central School District board that recent transportation practices are cutting off bus service to licensed daycares and harming businesses, while the board voted to approve Eastern Suffolk BOCES transportation contracts and a Suffolk County MOA for a school-bus stop arm demonstration program.
The Riverhead Central School District Board of Education approved the district's annual goals, which will be posted in each school, and approved the districtwide safety plan after a previous presentation by the district safety coordinator.
The Riverhead Central School District board voted Aug. 20 to establish a standing Community Involvement and Language Access Advisory Committee to advise the board on access to services, co‑curricular programs and language‑access issues for families whose primary language is not English.
At the Aug. 20 Riverhead Central School District board meeting, district security staff reviewed a multi-year set of safety upgrades including more guards, new cameras, integrated alarms, and apps for rapid emergency notification and anonymous reporting.
Multiple parents and daycare owners asked the Riverhead board to reconsider a recent enforcement of busing rules that removes routine bus stops for some state‑licensed childcare programs outside students' school catchment areas.
The Riverhead Central School District Board of Education appointed Dr. Julio Gonzales to a vacant seat, elected James Scudder president and Erica Murphy vice president, and swore in a student representative and district officials during its reorganizational meeting; all motions reported as approved by voice vote.
The board approved a lengthy consent agenda covering committee assignments, CSE/CPSE appointments, banking and bonding choices, impartial hearing officers, library services, multiple service contracts, memberships and disposal of surplus equipment; the board also set most regular meetings for Wednesday evenings.
Board members asked district business staff to prepare an analysis of potential impacts from state and federal funding uncertainties, including Title grants reportedly on hold and Medicaid reimbursements for special-education services; the board said it prepared a letter to the U.S. representative raising those concerns.
Riverhead High School leaders told the Riverhead Central School District board that AP participation, dual enrollment and vocational enrollment rose, disciplinary incidents and physical altercations declined, and two alternative programs expanded credit recovery and graduation outcomes.
Two speakers raised concerns about how students with disabilities are secured on buses, reporting missing equipment, improper attachment of vests and pre-K students transported with lap belts. Speakers asked the board to investigate and form a committee; the board did not announce immediate action.
