Riverhead school board hires executive director of elementary ed: July 22 meeting wrap-up

The Riverhead Board of Education hired a new administrator this week to oversee the school district’s elementary education services.

Gretchen Cotton Rodney, who worked as the principal at the North Coleman Road Elementary School in Centereach, is taking on the new role of the executive director of elementary education for the 2024-25 school year. Cotton Rodney will be paid an annual salary of $190,000 plus benefits, according to a memorandum of understanding approved by the school board at a special meeting Monday. Cotton Rodney’s position is not part of any bargaining unit.

“Dr. Cotton Rodney is a veteran principal who has served the Middle Country School District since 2014. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge as an educator and administrator,” Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich said in a statement. “Her knowledge of elementary education, research-based practice and literacy will be an asset to our district. I look forward to her contributions to the leadership team.”

Cotton Rodney recently obtained a doctor of education in educational leadership and administration from St. John’s University and has a master of education degree from the University of Texas at Dallas, according to her LinkedIn page. She is also a trustee of the Longwood Public Library.

Cotton Rodney’s appointment Monday is part of an ongoing restructuring of the school district’s top administration. 

• Approved a contract with Riverhead Town to employ Riverhead Police officers to be school resource officers in Riverhead High School and Riverhead Middle School during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. The district will pay half the employment costs of one of the officers during the 2024-25 school year, and half the cost of both the officers in the 2025-26 school year, according to the agreement. Officer Eric Cohen will be assigned primarily to the Riverhead High School and officer Kaley Castantine will be assigned primarily to the Middle School, according to the agreement. There is currently a school resource officer at Phillips Avenue Elementary School funded by Southampton Town. See separate story.
• Approved a settlement agreement with National Business Technologies, a firm which the district contracted with in 2023 to provide information technology services and mentorship services for certain district personnel. According to the agreement, the firm said the school district owed it $26,855 for mentorship services, which the district disputed. The district agreed to pay the firm $20,000 under the agreement, which releases and discharges both the district and the firm from any liability related to the contract. Pedisich declined to comment on the settlement agreement. 
• Hired three new assistant principals to replace three assistant principals — two who resigned and one who was promoted to principal. Jessica Farmer and Jaclyn Kenney will be elementary assistant principals, and Phillip Cabrera will be an assistant principal in the middle school.
• Approved an agreement with Hilary Gomes of Saint James for neuropsychological evaluations for the 2024-2025 school year. Gomes will be paid $3,900 per evaluation.
• Accepted a $2,997 grant from the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District to be used for supplies for the Riverhead High School greenhouse.

Correction: This article has been amended to correct a misstatement about the cost the school district would pay towards one school resource officer.