Unmasked Students 'Reassigned' At Riverhead School, Police Called

RIVERHEAD, NY — Police were called by a community member to Riverhead High School on Tuesday over controversy involving students' refusal to wear masks.

On Monday, a state Supreme Court judge in Nassau County overturned Gov. Kathy Hochul's school mask mandate. At the same time, the State Education Department sent a letter to school superintendents telling them that they should continue to follow mask protocols.

The news led to confusion and some anger, as parents refused to send their children to school with masks, despite the direction of some districts that they continue to do so.

"Today, 10 students across our seven buildings arrived at school without a face mask and declined to put on one provided to them," the Riverhead Central School District said in a statement to Patch. "As per our protocols, the students’ parents were contacted, and they were asked to pick up their child. Those students who remained at school were reassigned to locations within our buildings and were supervised by our staff for the remainder of the day. The district did not contact members of law enforcement over this matter, but officers did respond to the building after being contacted by a community member."

Some residents turned to social media Tuesday to say that the Riverhead Central School District had "segregated" multiple students, with reports of police and parents were seen at the high school.

When asked about the incident, a media representative for the Riverhead Central School District responded with the statement.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic the district has worked to follow the directives and guidance provided by the state, health organizations and New York State Education Department. Within our reopening plan, which was approved by our Board of Education and filed with the state prior to the start of school in September, it notes that all individuals are required to wear a face mask when inside our school buildings," the statement said.

On Monday night, after the legal ruling to overturn mask requirements was announced, the district received a follow-up memo from the NYSED directing that schools should continue to follow the current mask requirement, the district said.

The district shared the information with families Monday night, informing them that all students and staff would continue to be required to follow past protocols and were asked to wear masks in Riverhead schools, the statement said.