School bond

After the defeat of the school district’s capital construction bonds last week, residents are asking town officials to focus on overcrowded housing and code enforcement in Riverhead.

The time has come to address the cause of the school district’s problems rather than throw money at the problems with the hopes that the problems will go away.

Riverhead school district is in a crisis. Because of the 2% tax cap and the lack of fair foundation aid from our state, our schools have been starved of the money they need to provide our children with the sound, basic education to which they are entitled

School district officials are concerned that "misinformation" is confusing people about the capital bond proposal and turning them against it.

The school board is scheduled to take up resolutions tonight approving a $96.55 million capital construction plan and scheduling a Feb. 25 vote on two propositions authorizing the plan.

Three more public meetings to discuss the capital bond proposal have been announced by the Riverhead Board of Education. Questions, comments and concerns from the public will be heard and discussed by community members and board of education members.

New enrollment projections add 180 students at the high school in 10 years, requiring 32 new classrooms instead of 24

Board of education president Greg Meyer said the board would announce the new dates before Thanksgiving.

School officials plan to put two propositions up for a vote in February: an $85.9 million bond for facilities upgrades and expansion and an $8.8 million bond for athletic facilities improvements.

In response to community feedback, the district has developed scaled-back and less expensive expansion plans — three alternatives ranging in cost from $94.1 million to $79.7 million.