May 13, 2003

Dear Parents and Students,

This year has been like no other. Recent decisions in Albany have created changes in our annual budget vote. As a result of the courage of the majority of members of the State Assembly and a unanimous vote on the part of the State Senate, they have overridden Governor Pataki, and proposed a state budget for education that restored $1.3 million to the Riverhead Central School District. In addition, the Board of Regents has tabled, for one year, the application of the Riverhead Charter School to expand their program.

The net effect on the school district is positive. The proposed change in state aid, although only half of what the District received in 2002-03, will still provide $700,000 in operating aid, $280,000 in Early Class Size Reduction Grant and $270,000 in Universal Pre-K. This proposal will permit the continuation of the Universal Pre-K program, the continued reduction of class size in our most needy K-4 schools, and the reduction of taxes to our taxpayers.

The decision by the Board of Regents to table the charter school’s request for expansion and to order a State audit of the Riverhead Charter School program resulted in a $600,000 reduction of the proposed school district budget and a savings to our taxpayers.

But the fight is not yet over. The Governor must now sign the bill. Should this not occur, the Legislators must again override his decision. Please contact Senator Kenneth LaValle, and thank him for his determination and courage, as well as his commitment to education. Also, contact Members of the State Assembly Patricia Acampora and Fred Thiele, and encourage them to support the education of our children should the need to override occur.

Last week I was invited to attend, with five other Suffolk Superintendents, a lobbying trip to Washington D.C. Over two days, we met with Senators Clinton and Schumer and Congressmen Bishop, Ackerman, King and Israel. We discussed the need to increase funding for IDEA (Special Education), No Child Left Behind, and unfunded/under funded mandates, as well as the need to ensure that districts like Riverhead receive appropriate funding. Each of the federal legislators assured us that they are in agreement and will do everything possible to increase federal funding and to reduce unfunded mandates.

In order to provide school districts time to adjust budgets and provide the public with more accurate information, the date of the Annual School Budget Vote has been changed. This year’s budget vote is now scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, 2003. The vote will take place at the Riverhead High School Gymnasium between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. You must be registered in order to vote. Voter registration will take place on Monday, May 19th from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Tuesday, May 20th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Riverhead Central School District Office.

Congratulations to the Class of 2003 Valedictorian Russell Kratoville, and Salutatorian Wayne Hopkins. Congratulation also to the members of the Class of 2003 Top Fifteen Students: Russell Kratoville, Wayne Hopkins, Megan Ferris, Samantha Waide, Heather Lohneiss, Brian Takacs, Robin Ahrens, Larissa Zuhoski, Margaret Mars, Adam Reeve, Michael Staib, Leigh Hubbard, Matthew Messina, Monika Grabowska and Hannah Warner.

Riverhead High School NJROTC, under the command of LTC Vahey and Master Chief Barbour, have recently been notified that they have been selected, for the second year in a row, for the Distinguished Unit Award in Area Four. Congratulations on a job well done.

Please remember to vote on the school budget on Tuesday, June 3rd. Your vote counts. I ask each of our registered voters to make this the highest voter turnout ever. Show our Legislators that we care about the education of our children.

Have a great spring. I hope to see all of our parents and students at “Riverhead Alive”, June 3rd, at Riverhead High School from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Come and celebrate our students’ achievements, listen to their performances and recognize their success! Riverhead Central School District is truly the best-kept secret on the East End of Long Island!

George L. Duffy III, Superintendent of Schools