Blind Brook Families Look For Answers At School Town Hall

RYE BROOK, NY — A town hall meeting this evening could prove to be a watershed moment in the ongoing saga over an elementary school deemed unsafe and ordered closed by state officials.

The Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street Elementary School was closed by the New York State Department of Education on Sept. 8, over safety concerns, including non-working fire alarms and sprinkler systems. School officials said ongoing construction at the school led to the violations.

During a school board meeting last week, school board members apologized for a "breakdown in communication." It was also announced that Superintendent Patrick Brimstein was being placed on paid leave.

Assistant Superintendent Colin Byrne was named interim superintendent in Brimstein's absence.

In a letter to families dated Sept. 26, Byrne said that the Ridge Street Elementary School Special Education Program would return to in-person instruction on Tuesday. He wrote that the district received approval to provide in-person learning at the King Street campus for the 6 special education classes which were left without classrooms when the school was ordered closed.

Byrne said alternative sites for classrooms are still under review, but he noted, "there is no instant solution that will simply allow us to relocate our students into these classrooms next week." He said the district is exploring spaces at JCC in Harrison and Camp Mohawk in White Plains.

"We thank you for your patience and understanding as we all work tirelessly to put these difficult times behind us and move this district forward," Byrne wrote. "The board and district administration, teachers and staff acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices that all of you have made, and we will not rest until we return to the quality of in-person education for all Blind Brook students that you rightfully demand."

The virtual town hall meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. The school board and Acting Superintendent Colin Byrne will offer an update on the Ridge Street School. Questions and comments can be submitted ahead of time or asked live using the Q&A feature during the virtual meeting.

Information on how to attend the virtual meeting and how to submit comments can be found here.