Riverhead Community Bond Forums Planned

RIVERHEAD, NY — Just days before the public will be asked to weigh in on a $96.5 million bond resolution on Feb. 25 that would fund repairs and renovations throughout the Riverhead Central School District, two community forums will be held to discuss the issues.

The first bond presentation, hosted by joint elementary school PTOs, is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at Pulaski Street Elementary School.

A second bond forum will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13; the Riverhead Central School District's Board of Education and administration have invited all community residents to attend the session, which takes place at at 7 p.m. at Riverhead High School.

During the forum, residents will have an opportunity to learn the facts about the upcoming bond vote on Tuesday, Feb. 25, and information about the scope of work proposed in the two separate bond propositions, a release said.

“Our district is at a crossroads, and we believe we must come together to address our facilities’ needs for the benefit of our students,” said Board of Education President Greg Meyer. “The issues we are facing now will not go away, but will only continue to get worse. We have an opportunity to improve our schools as we move into the future. Your vote is important, so please plan to attend the bond forum on Feb. 13 and vote on Feb. 25.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, residents will be asked to vote on two separate propositions: Proposition No. 1 totals $88,249,340 and will address the district’s spatial needs, overcrowding and projected enrollment growth; safety and security enhancements; repairs and renovations districtwide; Americans With Disabilities Act compliance issues, repairs/renovations to bathrooms districtwide; repairs/renovations to HVAC systems districtwide as needed; and repair/replacement of sidewalks and walkways districtwide as needed, the district said in a release.

Proposition No. 2 totals $8,800,000 and will fund the McKillop Field synthetic turf conversion; stadium track and field; varsity baseball field and softball field relocation; multi-use courts at Pulaski Street Elementary School and Riverhead Middle School; parking expansion and bus parking area at Pulaski Street Elementary School; improvement to the Riverhead Middle School baseball field; and improvements to the fairgrounds entrance, the district said.

Each proposition requires a separate vote — and Proposition No. 2, even if approved by voters, will not move forward unless Proposition No. 1 is also approved.

Voting will take place on Feb. 25 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at polling locations including Riley Avenue Elementary School, Phillips Avenue Elementary School, Roanoke Avenue Elementary School and Aquebogue Elementary School.

The two separate propositions total $97,049,340, of which $500,000 will be funded through the district's voter approved capital reserve fund.

"We have held numerous presentations and community meetings and have listened to the concerns and wishes of the community," said Meyer. "The board took this information into consideration as we prioritized the needs of our school district to develop a proposed bond we believe is fiscally responsible and addresses our immediate needs to repair and improve our schools. We encourage all residents to vote on Feb. 25."

Information regarding the bond is also available on the district's website here.