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MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Special Meeting – June 15, 2005
Riverhead Middle School Library

PRESENT: President, Mrs. Lori H. Montefusco; Vice President, Mrs. Nancy Gassert; Mrs. Kathleen Berezny; Mr. Timothy Griffing; Mrs. Mary Ellen Harkin; and, Mrs. Christine Prete.
ABSENT: Mr. Timothy Hubbard.
ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Paul R. Doyle, Mr. Joseph Ogeka, Mr. Joseph Singleton and Ms. Nancy Carney.
There were about 40 other people in attendance.
ALSO PRESENT: Mrs. Barbara O’Kula.
President, Mrs. Montefusco, opened the public information meeting at 7:12 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
Mrs. Montefusco prefaced the work session by stating that its purpose is to share information of the Space Planning Committee, the architects, administration and the environmental consultants for a new building project. The Board of Education has made no determination and will make an assessment of the presentations and gathering of information from the public.
Mr. Roger Smith of BBS (Burton, Behrendt, Smith, P.C.), the district’s architectural firm, gave a presentation on proposed buildings and configurations based on projected enrollment increases. The possibilities take into consideration desired grade levels/class configurations in certain buildings and their related costs of construction and land needs. He estimated that a new high school for approximately 1,900+ students would total $128.8 million. Two new middle schools for grades 5-8 would cost an estimated $133.5 million. The building of a new high school, only, would necessitate improvements to the existing middle school and high school; and, it is noted that the proposed plans exclude the use of the Roanoke Avenue Elementary School as an elementary school.

Pledge of Allegiance

Updates:
-BBS
-vacant land study
-environmental study

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Minutes
Board of Education
June 15, 2005
Page 2
Mr. Nick Andreadis of Triton Construction indicated that the decision of a school site will determine the land clearing/leveling costs and are dependent upon the site itself (serviceable, size, etc.). Analysis of the site will proceed after site selection. According to Mr. Richard Baldwin of Freudenthal & Elkowitz Consulting Group, once building plans are prepared and a site decided upon, the SEQRA process (Phase I) to meet State compliance will take about nine months to a year.
Mr. Singleton stated that a site has not yet been chosen and that letters have been sent to local landowners to solicit their consideration of selling viable property to the district. He further stated that the district is looking at three properties – one on school-owned property on Tuthill’s Lane in Jamesport – one of property at EPCAL donated by the Town of Riverhead – and, another not yet designated.
Mrs. Montefusco informed the community that with the timelines presented, a bond vote is not likely to occur before year’s end as previously envisioned; and, that the community expresses peference for the building of a new centrally located high school vs. two middle schools.
Mrs. Harkin stated the Board’s due diligence and concerns on some sites that have/have not been remediated and that environmental impact concerns will be identified and targeted.
Comments from the community included:
-the need for a good technological, proficient high school
-property tax increases (a 30-year bond for a new building
at interest rates at time of borrowing to include options of
state aid currently at 30%)
-request that the Board not foreclose any potential site and
examine all options
-opinion that a school at EPCAL would split the community
-suggestion that consideration be given to add on to the
existing high school and that BBS give a presentation
on such a proposal

Community
Comments

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Minutes
Board of Education
June 15, 2005
Page 3
-affordability of a new building
-presentation of a binder of information (with support of retained
attorney, James Heffron of Atkinson & Heffron) relative to
unsafe/contaminated sites at EPCAL for the Board’s review
Mrs. Montefusco stated that the Board will consider all possibilities, and, in doing so, will not place children in harm’s way.
Tonight’s presentation by BBS will be put on the district’s website or is available at the District Office by way of FOIL.
A motion was made by Mrs. Prete, seconded by Mrs. Berezny, to adjourn the meeting.
Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.
The public information meeting ended at 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,Barbara O’Kula
District Clerk

Adjournment