what planet : 2/25/2010
You chose your career and knew that it did not come with any health benefits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Typical straw man. Take the focus off the topic and talk about my job. Not one teacher will admit they have great benefits, it's always "why don't YOU become a teacher if you think it's so great?"

what planet : 2/25/2010
Are you going to go after the manager at the stores on 58 who get some health benefits, or the town employees, or the police officers? Many jobs come with health benefits, not just teachers.
~~~~~~~~~~~
My tax dollars don't pay for it, my tax dollars don't pay for their pensions either. And yes, town employees and police officers need to pay their own way too. And last time I looked there weren't any other jobs that pay like teachers' jobs and only work 180 days a year.

Fire : 2/24/2010
YES- Fire the teachers, unions and administrators. How do you fire them and create a Charter school?

Schools budgets held hostage : 2/21/2010
All districts need to do what Central Falls Rhode Island is doing and fire the teachers unions and administrators

$$$$ : 2/18/2010
to what planet....no we are going to go after the money that represents 70% of my tax bill

what planet : 2/18/2010
Does anyone out there think all our talk and vote will be for naught? I think a change is coming .
Just remember we have the budget coming very soon and don't know what they are going to hit us with. We have to let them know it cannot be business as usual.

what planet : 2/18/2010
In defense of " what planet"... most who work
"in the free market" rather than protected by union contracts, have made more substantial sacrifices to pay benefits etc.... Many employees who have health care contribute much more than teachers do. Rather than focus on health care, the thought is that the combination of salary, benefits, job protection and summers off are now excess.
Witness that there are many aspiring teachers who cannot find work. Laws of supply and demand dont seem to apply as they do to most people in the workforce....including those with higher education.

What Planet.... : 2/18/2010
You chose your career and knew that it did not come with any health benefits. Are you going to go after the manager at the stores on 58 who get some health benefits, or the town employees, or the police officers? Many jobs come with health benefits, not just teachers. The real issue here is that the district chooses to make poor decisions during hard times. I love what the one poster said about using the small companies and workers within the district to fix things. How about the district change their rules about using certain companies, and ask the community for help from qualified people here in town.

dont spend big bucks to expand : 2/18/2010
Several states are trying a plan that would allow high school school to graduate early , if they pass tests and enroll ncommunity college. This, if implemented in rvhd, would lower high school enrollment
and may rdeuce or eliminate need for very expensive expansion of the high school. see ny times today for details.

what planet : 2/17/2010
As for the teachers salaries....Many teachers are paying into their health care. The unions have given that up each year and with each contract they are paying a higher percentage plus copays just like everyone else. Riverhead salaries are low compared to the rest of the island.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Who are you kidding? teachers in Riverhead are paid very well. As far as health insurance goes. . . . My husband and I pay over 700 a month for health insurance. That's 100% of our health insurance. Teachers pay a miniscule amount. Get real. You must be a teacher.

BUDGET : 2/17/2010
i LISTEN TO ALL THE DEROGATORY STATEMENTS IN EITHER DIRECTION. wE DO NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK @ THE SALARIES, BENEFITS, COSTS AND THE PROPOSED BUDGETS. wHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARTERING. hOW ABOUT LAWYERS GIVING SOMETHING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, BUILDERS GIVE SOME FREE TIME BUILDING, PLUMBERS COME FIX A PIPE OR INSTALL A NEW SINK. IF WE HAD OUR BUSINESS PERSON COORDINATE SOME OF THESE VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES OR HAD A LIST OF FRIENDS OF THE rIVERHEAD SCHOOL DISTRICT WE COULD PROBABLY TAKE CARE OF LARGE LABOR COSTS AND SOME OF THE REPAIRS MUCH NEEDED. I THINK HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HAS THE RIGHT IDEA. HOW ABOUT USING SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR OUR BENEFIT. I TRULY CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER INCREASE BUT WOULD VOLUNTEER TIME TO GIVE MY CHILDREN A QUALITY EDUCATION.

why not? : 2/17/2010
Sure it will cost thousands per student ( of course it will, since the average ( not marginal) expense per student is $17k), but if doing so avoids many millions of riverhead taxpayer investment for expansion, why do you jump to the conclusion that building capacity s preferential. As far as the state goes, yes it will move slowly, but again, riverhead is planning on spending big. Doing a good job is part of the equation, economics is the other.

re-districting... : 2/17/2010
You would need the STATE to re-district the school lines. Do you think that will happen any time soon? If you do that, then the taxes for that house goes with it to the new school.
As far a paying per child ....It would cost thousands per student to send them elsewhere. We are educating all the kids now. The elementary class size is pretty good and so is the middle school. The prediction says we will have LESS students coming up soon anyway. This bond was to FIX the buildings which still can be done but little at a time.
In the long run, the state should take over and redo this whole mess but I dont see that happening anytime soon.

to " consolidation " : 2/17/2010
Of course, riverhead could NOT send children to other schools WITHOUT PAYING TUITION in the short term. That said, might it be better economically to pay tuition to southampton/ eastport etc if possible ( assuming these systems have some capacity) in order to avoid a large expenditure to creat capacity in riverhead? If the tuition is reasonable in the light of the expansion cost, why is this not an alternative? And to say the line will not be redrawn implies that it NEVER will be. This seems defeatist to me. If it makes sense economically it should be explored legally.

Too Much : 2/17/2010
I really hope that your comments were meant in a sarcastic tone....you can't believe what you spew! This vote was as much about the Board of Ed. and the admin. salaries as it was about the money for the bond. Our board is arrogant and self serving, unless and until we wake up as a community we will have misinformed wanna be political people running our board. Oh wait, I mean Dr. S running the show! Please people...send her back out west. She doesn't even own a home here, so she reaps the rewards and pays no property taxes...OUTRAGOUS

Consolidation : 2/17/2010
Riverhead only has the authority to redistrict their own. They can move kids around but they can NOT make kids go to another district without paying tuition to that district. The state is the only one that can redistrict schools and that is not going to happen. There are a few houses that are in Riverhead town that go to Eastport/South Manor. it is just where the line was drawn year ago.
As for the teachers salaries....Many teachers are paying into their health care. The unions have given that up each year and with each contract they are paying a higher percentage plus copays just like everyone else. Riverhead salaries are low compared to the rest of the island. They cant even get substitutes to come here. The state has made a new Tier for new teachers starting Jan. 2010. They must work longer and have more years in and their pension is less.
The community needs to help the district come up with some good solid things that CAN change and is in the districts control.

Re: too much : 2/16/2010
That pay chart shows us that we clearly don't love our children. After all, if we did, there wouldn't be an employee of the district making less than $200k. Shame on you Riverhead, so selfish, you only think of yourselves. Downtown is only going to get more run down with school staff making so little. Families will not want to move to a district where the people care so little about education we are paying starvation wages. All this will lead to a drop in your property values, but you mean and greedy people deserve it for being such pigs.

School Over haul : 2/16/2010
Absoulety Keep these schools. The old RHS should be kept going. It is a beautiful school (now being used as a grade school) but there is so much History there. It is Polish Town USA history...

School : 2/16/2010
Suffolk County has ten ( 10 ) Towns and
72 School Distircts ? Something is wrong with this picture ?
Consolidation just within the School District is a good start !
Wake-up Riverhead Taxpayers !

too much : 2/16/2010
Riverhead's highest $ 08' 09'
per L.I.schools.com
Superintendent of Schools$174,433
Asst Supt for Personnel $142,278
Asst Supt for Business $134,782
Principal - High School $130,974
Principal - Elementary $123,258
Principal - Elementary $123,258
Asst Supt for Curr & Inst $123,134
Principal - Middle School $119,754
Principal - Elementary $119,561
Director, Special Education$115,615
Director, Athletics $115,615
Principal - Elementary $113,074
Principal - Elementary $113,074
Director, Guidance/Alt HS $109,823
Estimated median household income in 2008: $46300/yr
over priced do nothings.....OUTRAGEOUS..................

got my vote : 2/16/2010
Consolidate the schools and let the bodies hit the floor.

Property Tax Crisis : 2/16/2010
The crisis is looming. The school districts must be consolidated or the school tax burden must be shifted to Albany so they can visit a proportional tax to be levied amongst every constituent of the State. the school cronies want the property tax because they do not want the State calling the shots on salary and benefits. If Suffolk County is to survive this down-turn the schools muct be consolidated. The worst of the decline is not yet upon us and we have another 30% drop in real property values that will be realized over the next 18 months.
It will be interesting to see who is out first superintendants or teachers and custodians. Hmmn? Good for us riverhead homeowners. Let's stcik together like the unions and vote out the sympathetic.

budget : 2/15/2010
I whole heartly agree about the teachers and admin.
taking a pay cut. Maybe pay a good part of their
health insurance. They have to know the people
cannot keep paying these high taxes. People are losing jobs left and right and some of these jobs are not coming back. So lets get real here and hope
someone waks up before its too late .

financing the budget : 2/15/2010
With the news coming out of Albany about massive cuts in education, maybe its time for the teachers union to get real and start giving back in order to level the playing field and stop bankrupting our citizens and local districts. Stop the over paid salaries and high medical costs as well as high pension costs. The administators salaries should be cut by half and then we can spend the bulk of the money on the kids...remember them????

Football Field : 2/15/2010
My only gripe that I had with the whole bond issue is what they had planned for the purposed football facility. The football field is where it is for a reason, that is where the old grandstands once stood for the County Fairgrounds. My family has lived in Riverhead for well over a century and all have stories about that area be it a football field or horse track.Many would agree their is alot of history at that complex and those fairgrounds. Please think of the options before moving a field that is already dedicated to a great Riverhead man and has that much history with this area.

Response to: to heck with kids : 2/14/2010
Regarding your "feel your pain": statement involving the unemployed, I'm not sure what planet your observing from, perhaps the MSNBC or CNN one that is touting all the job creation that's going on out there but unless you want to make $8-10 an hour working the floor at Toys R Us or flipping burgers at Wendy;s there is nothing and I mean NOTHING out there. I have a masters degree and have applied, called begged for a decent job but with hundreds of applications for 1 decent position I am still looking nearly a year after being laid off. Again if you have a job it's easy to observe life from that pedistal and say whats a few hundred bucks a year. I respond plenty!! It's groceries, gas and heat for some of us. Throwing money into the pit of "education" is not unlike the money being thrown at every other mismanaged problem that is festering from government control in this country, weather its healthcare, Social Security, the Postal Service. There is no accountability. If govt. local or national was a business it would be have liquidated itself long ago. This is not the time to do this and should be revisted ONLY when the economy improves to the extent that it warrants a rediscussion.

Oh, spare us your nastiness... : 2/14/2010
TO: "voter turnout"
So the people who voted against this bond did so because of"misinformation" and have no purpose but to "harm others".
Just what "misinformation" was spread? Those who tried to shove this bond down our throats were the ones who spread lies and distortions to make their case. 1) Breaking the cost down to the day ("just pennies per day!) to make the numbers seem small, 2) staging photos to make overcrowding look worse, 3) masking the demographic trends that indicate enrollment has peaked and will begin dropping, 4) inserting a clause that allows the school board to redirect the money as it sees fit (woohoo, raises for everyone with the "surplus").
Far from the voters being uninformed, it's those of you who would give this district an unlimited amount of money because it's "for the children" with no accountability and no concern for the struggling residents of the town who are mindless.

to " heck with kids" : 2/14/2010
For property values to increase, schools rating must improve, which i think is a function of test scores ( see Greatschool..org). I dont think that more sports fields with a press box or nicer offices for admin will improve school rating. Demographics pretty much define school scores.
That said, if real estate taxes go up without score improvement, values go down. So, you would really have to be confident that any of these " investments in our future " will increase scores. I am not, but i would vote yes on a much pared down bill. 1. repair of course 2.Focus on academics only. 3. Defer any investment in capacity beyond current enrollment. 4. Discussion with southampton is worth a try - hire attorneys( no i am not an attorney) . ( retired, no kids, huge taxes)

RE: heck with the kids : 2/14/2010
you comment are a little extreme but points well taken. interesting that I hear many who supported didn't vote because they figured it would pass by a landslide.

heck with the kids : 2/14/2010
I'm sure I'll get blasted for this but what the heck. I'm a single capitalistic pig......no kids so I really could care less about their education..........but I voted yes. That's right.......yes........I'd like my property value to increase rather than continue it's decline. I'd like to see this town reach its potential. It's on the verge of greatest. But we need more upper income folks moving in so if a couple of hundred bucks a year bleeds out some undesirables so be it.. With all Riverhead has to offer there is no reason it shouldn't be prime real estate! Oh....and I agree with the redistricing plan. Lets look at all options. As far as teachers pay....100K after 25 years....not my concern.....and I'm not a teacher. Everyone needs to take personal responbility for their own career chioce and not blast others. All those unemployed do have my sympathy but as long as you believe in yourself and have a strong work ethic you won't be unemployed for long. You do need to be willing to commute West since thats where the high paying jobs are located.

voter turnout : 2/14/2010
It was indeed sad to learn that less than 20% of the voters who turned out were the parents of the children in the RSCD. One could say that the parents are consumed with work and family and did not have the time to turn out. But also one could conclude that perhaps years of abuse at the hands of faculty and staff has resulted in a frightened and disenfranchised school family population. Everyone knows that at RSCD if, for example, you criticize a coach, your child does not get to play; or if you challenge the instructional methods of a teacher, you child is razzed in class in front of his or her peers and made to feel ostracized. Our minority families know better than to raise questions of lack of equity and access- the inherent racism in our schools keeps them at bay; the reception at the hands of certain faculty members is disgraceful, but with tenure backing up these behaviors, not much will change.
And what about community activists who worked to defeat the referendum? People like Irene Pendzick and Hal Lindstrom and his wife Kathy walked senior communities and Polish Town with a negative message, frightening the elderly with misinformation. And the 9 to 12 people, with George Harkin as a member, also rallied individuals. And not to be left out is the dawn patrol duo, Bruce Tria and Laurie Downs- proving that a little information is dangerous in the hands of the simple and the political wannabes.
Although they all have observations that may have merit, none are positive- all are just negative. Ms. Downs while tearing down the proposal, never once offered an alternative for improvement- not once in the 2.5 years of public meetings with plans fully in evidence did she offer any constructive criticism. The same for her side kick Mr. Tria and also for the Lindstroms. Real citizen activism requires constructive and substantive solutions to the issues identified. Without that we are just engaging once again in the favorite sport of Riverhead- bash the officials. We are like the Romans at their games in the Coliseum- mindless, screaming mobs with no purpose, no focus except to harm others. If all those who voted truly have the interests of our children at heart, lets make it constructive and not continue the endless and mindless drama that has become Riverhead in the last decade.

: 2/13/2010
Also since it takes a teacher many years to reach decent pay
~~~~~~~~~~
DECENT PAY? Most residents of Riverhead will NEVER make $100,000 a year, most don't have guaranteed jobs, most don't have their health insurance paid, most won't retire at 55 and have guaranteed pensions. And NONE of them work only 180 days a year with 3 months vacation! Let me get out my violin! DECENT pay?!

idiocy : 2/13/2010
But back to booting the Flanders or Brookhaven or whoever kids out of the schools, please stop. It's very inhuman and cruel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
No it isn't. We're not saying boot them out as if they can't go to school. We're saying let them be educated in the school for the town the live in.

: 2/13/2010
FLANDERS NEEDS TO GO TO SOUTHAMPTON......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
APPLAUSE!!!! You said a mouthful. Send em where they live!

: 2/13/2010
Mexican, south and central american visitors are getting the best education and health care money can buy..........the problem is it's your money. Also please publish the teachers salaries and let's have a look .....we will all be informed that way.

flanders kids : 2/13/2010
I think any inference about " kicking out" Flanders kids is unfortunate. If Southampton schools have capacity , while Riverhead schools clearly do not, it does not make economic sense for riverhead schools to spend for expansion. " Redistricting" within school systems happen all the time...why cant .the 50 year old deal with southampton can be changed.?

taxes : 2/12/2010
FLANDERS NEEDS TO GO TO SOUTHAMPTON......

taxes : 2/12/2010
get ur facts straight riverhead's taxes are going up every year....

I have the answer : 2/12/2010
What needs to be done is this: landlords and homeowners of homes that have more than one family living in it, need to have their taxes adjusted and raised to reflect the number of family's living in them and the number of children attending Riverhead Schools (and any school district). Then everyone's tax problem would be solved because EVERYONE would be paying their fair share of school taxes. Nassau did it, why can't Suffolk?

Flanders and taxes : 2/12/2010
All the kids from Flanders? Are you kidding me? Why are the children from Flanders always being told they need to be kicked out of Riverhead School's? Whoever is posting this garbage should remember that the decision to combine the district happened in the 1950's and it is not going to change so just get over it. For God's sake people, no one gets a free ride except maybe the homes that have more than one family living it and I don't care if that is politically correct or not, it's the truth. The RCSD schools, especially the high school and middle school, need to be updated, Roanoke Ave. School cannot be expanded so it makes sense to get rid of all the portable buildings and put all the offices in one place and merge the elementary schools to make them k-5. It's both economical and smart. The only downside of the "plan" is that it was asking a little bit too much at a time when we are all cutting back and cutting corners just to keep food on the table and heat in the house.
But back to booting the Flanders or Brookhaven or whoever kids out of the schools, please stop. It's very inhuman and cruel. It's now 2010 and it is what it is so get over it, work together, and act like decent human beings.
And reg. Flanders children, 75% of their property taxes go to Riverhead Central School district... those of us with single famlily dwellings and one family actually living in the house pay more than their fair share. WE do not get anything for free and our taxes go up every year. Does all of Riverhead resident's taxes go up every year or only the new homeowners? Flanders, Riverside and Northampton residents saw a 14% increase in their tax bill for the last 2 years, for a total of 28%,. What kind of increase did Riverhead see?
I think Riverhead's problem is the tax breaks that it offers businesses and the fact that Riverhead Town has not reassessed over 30 years. Maybe the state needs to step in and force them to reassess their values.
Until then, I suggest that the Board of Ed go back to the drawing board and figure out a better plan.

: 2/12/2010
Grew up in Mattituck and have lived here in Riverhead for 22 years now. No kids and have been paying way too much in taxes every year we've lived here and this was just the latest insult to our intelligence. Too many people in this town are struggling and in a time when we all have to learn to make do with what we have it's time the school board learns that same lesson. I should pay much less in taxes than the people who have many kids.

Flanders : 2/12/2010
We pay Riverhead school taxes, which are twice as high as Southampton....For years, Flanders residents have been trying to send our kids to Southampton..Why not look at RT58 with all these tax break businesses...Also, how can Riverhead Town continue to screw up the Grumman site???My kids were the only smart ones.....they moved..

Good one "school vote" : 2/12/2010
"School vote" you're telling it like it is. A couple of hundred this year, a few hundred next year and on and on. Maybe "sick" can pay for my family too. Sounds like their loaded or eR, drunk (LOL). And by the way,"SICK" stop your crying and blaming others for the 'No" vote. This is a Democracy the last time I checked and Democracy spoke, get over it and treat yourself to a new LEATHER COAT, with all the money you have.. And the "sick" who agrees with "SICK" if you can't take the heat, get out the kitchen.
The News Review is doing a great job overall by having this forum but,they just need to model it a little like the Southampton Press with "like and Dislike" options, plus Avatars. And by the way,"UP", I posted what you commented on and you raise some valid points. I've been in this town a long time and I am very awake.............Signed ........Johnny Nova..............peace. P.S.
and "TO ALL HERE". I will continue to voice my right of "FREEDOM OF SPEECH" whether any of you like or not, and WHY NOT?

repsonse to "up " : 2/12/2010
No debate that quality schools yield higher property values .
But academic performance and demographics are more important. The linkage of performance to
new space for administration is not there. Nor is the linkage of performance to having more sports facilites. And investment for NEW capacity needs to be carefully evaluated. "Build it and they will come" is not a good strategy. There seems to be some prevailing view that enrollments have peaked . Why cant some ( significant) portion ) of the investment be delayed to see if this happens?

school vote : 2/12/2010
This is for SICK. Here we go with some people thinking we have no right to voice our opinion.
WE should leave town, because we don't think like they do. Oh its only a couple of hundred. Maybe you can pay for me and a few hundred more people too.

sick : 2/12/2010
I agree with you 100%. The focus of the debate is completely lost with these individuals. It's probably the same individual posting different comments.
Those who don't want better schools for a couple of hundred bucks a year should move.

taxes : 2/12/2010
How is that we have all the kids from flanders in our school and its part of southampton. Riverhead taxes are way to high and its going to drive people out of here. Another thing is in our schools there are so many illegal aliens that like live 20 in a house, and they don't contribute to the taxes, but receive free lunches and much more......

*UP : 2/12/2010
Higher taxes? just what we all need in this ghost town.
It's a ghost town because the town is not attracting more middle and upper middle class residents to move here, set down roots and become a part of the community. Those people move into places like St James, Mt Sinai, Pt Jeff and Miller Place who's schools are not falling apart.
I'd take a broken down school over bloated teachers pay any day. Get rid of the multiple do-nothing, over-lap administrators who earn $100,000 plus a year and put that money towards improvements.
I would agree 100%. Who are they? Also since it takes a teacher many years to reach decent pay the focus needs to be on their benefit contributions and scaling down pensions. I've seen these teachers in action as they control those 2nd and 3rd graders and I would say they earn their pay. If you wanted such a job you should have chosen your career more wisely.
A quality education begins with quality teachers, (and we have a few), not some new structures.
I agee to a point. The environment also plays a critical role in a childs education. That's common sense.
Some of the most sought after educational structures are over 100 years old and they are beautiful because they've been maintained properly. Fire this maintenance department for their ineptness at maintaining our school buildings and grounds.
Yes. We should fire any non-performer while we invest in the future of our children and town.
Student population is dwindling as I speak. You want to raise my property taxes so you can all feel good in a new school, I think not. Any fool who votes for this expansion has rocks in their head for brains and I'd like to sale them some swamp land in Louisiana.
No rocks here and I voted yes and will do so again if given the opportunity.

Get real people. We don't live in Pleasant ville. We live in a crime ridden, high taxed, nepotistic, behind closed door dealing town/school board fiasco ghost township.
The town will never progress and move out from the crime ridden ghost town you percieve unless residents step up and invest in our schools and community. If taxes are too high than I suggest you move South. However, since our schools are falling apart it will be difficult for you to sell your home in this town.
These crooks who tout that our children educational needs aren't being met, are the same ones using our children as shields to hide behind, to pilfer our pockets and bank accounts.
I am a fiscal conservative republican who believes the Obama administration is completely incompetent and the stimulus bills are BS. I much rather see my tax dollars invested directly in our town and our schools where we can see them at work for the benefit of our children. A quality school district (academically and infrastructure) adds 30-50K in property value. I'll take that return for another 200 bucks a year.
Wake the F@#$^%&%
I am awake. Are you?

sick : 2/12/2010
The nastiness in so many of these comments is truly sickening. This newspaper, the reporter, the school district, the board of education, minority populations and others being insulted here do not deserve it. The real problem in this town are the people who voted no on this building referendum, so just look in the mirror.

school vote : 2/12/2010
I heard this morning how NJ is going to start looking into these high uncontrolable pensions for
gov. workers. They cannot keep going as they have done. I hope NY will have the courage to do the same. Maybe the TEACHERS and ADMIN. will be began to have some thought about the LITTLE GUY.
At least we can hope!!!! Some of the workers walk away with over a mil in pensions and health
care of a quarter mil. Do you think the people can keep paying for that . I don't think so.

Bond Issue : 2/12/2010
Gee, no one has blamed President Bush? To the writer who criticized the NY Post can you read or is your left leaning bias clouding your judgement. Put this bond issue on the list with the police dispatchers,EPCAL,snow mountain and gambling casinos. Unfortunately, two out of four passed. The Riverhead powers to be thought since they rammed through the police dispatcher issue fiasco of duplication of effort and taxation this bond issue was a walk in the park the "it's for children mentality" Unfortunately, when those children graduate there is nothing waiting for them in the way of good paying jobs so they leave! How many empty school busses are there? Nonsensical school trips to deli's,supermarkets pumpkin patches and farm stands prepares them for the real world. Go figure! 9-12 is coming to a school near you!

Last thing we need : 2/12/2010
In the midst of the worst economic times in my life we want to raise taxes? This is beyond stupidity. I have been out of work for 7 months after having a job in the same place for 14 years with little propect of reemployment. It's barely enough to make-end-meet on unemployment and savings. I can't afford another dime in expenses. But to those of you you have no sense of struggle because you still have your jobs, some of which earn 6 figures what's the problem? Maybe if we sent the INS into the schools that would eliminate the overcrowding. If you don't like the current situation send your kids to Mercy or St. Isadores.

children as sheilds : 2/12/2010
Carte Blanche
Higher taxes? just what we all need in this ghost town.
I'd take a broken down school over bloated teachers pay any day. Get rid of the multiple do-nothing, over-lap administrators who earn $100,000 plus a year and put that money towards improvements. A quality education begins with quality teachers, (and we have a few), not some new structures. Some of the most sought after educational structures are over 100 years old and they are beautiful because they've been maintained properly. Fire this maintenance department for their ineptness at maintaining our school buildings and grounds.Student population is dwindling as I speak. You want to raise my property taxes so you can all feel good in a new school, I think not. Any fool who votes for this expansion has rocks in their head for brains and I'd like to sale them some swamp land in Louisiana. Get real people. We don't live in Pleasant ville. We live in a crime ridden, high taxed, nepotistic, behind closed door dealing town/school board fiasco ghost township. These crooks who tout that our children educational needs aren't being met, are the same ones using our children as shields to hide behind, to pilfer our pockets and bank accounts. Wake the F@#$^%&%* UP.

hola... : 2/11/2010
Thank goodness that the people who are causing our schools to be overcrowded can't vote.If they could, I'm sure they would have voted to spend our tax money.Did anyone notice on the first page of the website for the expansion that there was a choice for spanish? Strange.....

school vote : 2/11/2010
NO WE ARE NOT STUPID, STUPID.
I CAN SEE THE REVOLT COMING WOWEEE !!!!!!!!!!!

bond : 2/11/2010
Where did Mr. Gannon receive his credentials? Surely he did not graduate from an accredited school of journalism if he begins an article the way he began the bond article. The News Review becomes more and more disappointing with each edition. If you do not become more objective in reporting the news then you can be sure the 2000 people who voted no for the bond will also stop buying this paper - and they will bring 2000 more with them. By the way, I notice that you're not the official paper for the RCSD so why the bias? Hmm...

Gannon : 2/11/2010
Tim Gannon is a well respected, non-biased fair journalist..
..Opposite.
I hear the NY Post is hiring Mr. Gannon

comments : 2/11/2010
I have to say that reading these comments are interesting as well as entertaining. I did vote in support of the bond based on many of the same views and comments posted. I do also believe there are valid arguements against and understand the concerns. We need to come together as a community and not further devide the town over this issue. The individual who threw in the racist comment needs to stay off the board.

Warning shot... : 2/11/2010
This was a message to our arrogant board and school supervisor. Chrissy Prete is going to be swept out, without a doubt. She shouldn't bother running. As for our esteemed Superintendent Diane Scricca, I say let's not renew her contract. We have the opportunity to look around and bring in someone from out of state. Because of the economy, it won't be difficult to find someone with equal or better qualifications who is used to delivering educational results with much lower (ie, non Long Island) budgets to work with. The school royalty doesn't want to hear from the unwashed masses who pay their salaries. It's time to bring out the guillotine.

no hummer here : 2/11/2010
For the record, we pay $21K re tax, have no children, no fear and do not drive a HUMMER. ( our cars avg 25mpg ) . Paying 21K per year with no children ,rather than moving to Florida, is greedy??
Emphasize education, we need more achievement , which can yield increased taxes for schools. (Thank you for the defense)... AWAKE

Prete's quote : 2/11/2010
Will voters remember Ms Prete's position on going back to the drawing board when she's up for re-election?
Sounds like she not terribly concerned with listening to voters.

Why should I give them my $20? : 2/11/2010
If the tax payers believed that they were using money wisely then maybe we would give them the $20 extra a month. They are not...we read in this paper about how they have double administrators at one building, asking for brand new football fields, lying to new parents about what we DO have (kids have access to computer rooms and smart boards) and the list goes on and on. We work hard for our money and I am not willing to hand over ANY more money until they show me they are running an efficient "business". Where did the money for repairs go all these years? We do not know what will happen in May either as the state sounds like they will not be giving the district the same amount. If that happens then they really need to get their act together. How about the board come out and say "hey, we heard you ...times are tough...sorry we didnt listen to you...we will have a few meetings to discuss the major stuff that needs to be done and see what we can put into the budget and come up with some ways to save money". At these meetings they need to LISTEN and not just sit there and then go back to a room and do what they want anyway. The vote was not even close so they have a lot of work to do.

Yes, AWAKE : 2/11/2010
"I empathize with you. Another 20 dollars a month would add so much to your 21K tax bill that you'd probably go bankrupt and lose that huge empty house you share with no children. That 20 bucks a month is probably a half of tank of gas in your hummer. You just put the entire vote in perspective. It's fear and greed that hinders progress."
See folks, this is socialism masquerading as "progressive". You give $21,000 per year for the benefit of the local community. It's not enough. After all, working and saving for a lifetime so you have a nice house to retire in should be punished, after all, it's too big for you. Not having any children only compounds the sin. Drive an SUV? Well, that needs punishment as well. Now, let's toss out those "magic" words - FEAR, GREED, and you forgot to throw in RACIST. You should be thankful that someone successful enough to pay $21k per year in taxes to our town, without utilizing the schools, has chosen to live and contribute here. And stop playing games with the numbers like our school board does. It's not "$20 a month". On $21k in taxes it's more like $750 a year, or, playing your game, $17,250 over the life of the bond. How much is enough to the liberals in our town? How much? If this had passed, there'd be demand for more and more money. It will never slow down, it will never stop. Every increase is used as the basis for another increase. This isn't about children, it's about $120,000 teachers and $250,000 administrators. It's about nice buildings to relax in while dreaming of collecting the huge pensions that WILL take food out of the mouths of our children. The people have had enough. If we're as greedy as you say, then please show us how we're not contributing enough per child. You won't be able to. Most districts do a hell of a lot better with a lot less per student. Reduce payroll costs by 10% and a building improvement bond will pass by 90%+.

Editor's response : 2/11/2010
Instead of poor sentence structure, for the sake of drama, which leads one to misinterpret the speaker's voice in the opening line, next time try:
According to some school board members, Riverhead voters...
Sign me,
A product of Riverhead schools who paid attention in english

awake? : 2/11/2010
I empathize with you. Another 20 dollars a month would add so much to your 21K tax bill that you'd probably go bankrupt and lose that huge empty house you share with no children. That 20 bucks a month is probably a half of tank of gas in your hummer. You just put the entire vote in perspective. It's fear and greed that hinders progress.

From the Editor : 2/11/2010
The first paragraph was attributed to school board members. We had already reported online Tuesday that the vote had failed, along with voters' response. In this and the print story, we were trying to lead with the new stuff, the board's reaction, which of course was also the most dramatic aspect of the piece.
- Michael White, Editor

Careful! : 2/11/2010
To "Keep crying, we're not falling for it anymore."
Careful, our current school board is wrapped so tight they, most likely, will NOT understand you are being SARCASTIC!

we need to "wake up?" really? : 2/11/2010
Now fully awake, i respond,,,,my taxes are already
$ 21k per year and we have no children. We are willing to pay for repairs ( of course) academic investment ( which might enable better educated children to eventually share the high tax burden) but not sports ( sports stars dont live here) or for the comfort of administrators. And Board, please be cautious about expansion for future growth
(which reminds me of " build it and they will come")

A little bias maybe? : 2/11/2010
"Riverhead taxpayers blew their shot at a much-needed overhaul to their schools -- and community -- when they overwhelmingly voted down a $123 million expansion proposal Tuesday, according to some school board members."
The last six words should have been the first six words.
Mr. Gannon, This first sentence is very misleading. Some? How about SOME others who may be happy this 'too-rich- for-Riverhead-pockets' budget went down!

Keep crying, we're not falling for it anymore. : 2/11/2010
"WOW....what a shame. This bond was a no brainer. There is no better time then now to invest in the future of our children and the town. The school district defines the entire community."
Only from the viewpoint of parents and the teachers unions.
"It attracts families, businesses and visitors into the town which are the drivers to economic growth."
That's true, when planning our vacation, I usually research the school district to make sure it's nice enough for me to visit that area, and when planning my next business location I look for the highest property taxes - coupled with low to median incomes. That is the formula for business success.
"It also would have provided many job opportunities for local trades."
Why would it? Small local contractors never work on public projects. There was no requirement to hire local contractors. Look at any school building site and the phone numbers on the trucks will be area code 516 and 718.
" I agree with the article.....we blew it Riverhead."
Well, as those of us who opposed the criminal level of school taxes in this town were told, I guess if you don't like it, it's time for you (and the school board), to leave for a town with district buildings you like. Adios.

She so stoopid! (sic) : 2/11/2010
Asked if she supported putting up a smaller bond to vote, Chrissy Prete, the school board's vice president, said: "I'm not putting it up again. There's no way. This was it. This was the bottom line."
Really? "There's no way" Now I know why this thing was shot down! Off with her head!!! Or at least tell her to go away! Ok, so according to her, we are just going to let the schools fall apart... Nice! Real nice!!! LOL

School : 2/11/2010
It is a shame that people in Riverhead do not see the big picture and the huge impact a School district has on every aspect of a community. If 20 buck a month is going to bankrupt anyone they are probably already living beyond their means and need a lesson in personal finance. This was an opportunity to move this town forward and again we stand still. I have to agree with the first post....wake up people!

The vote : 2/11/2010
I agree, your first paragraph is ridiculous!! I wont be buying your paper this week. Do your job and report the FACTS! The board lost this vote by 1000 people!
You need to look at all the comments from yesterdays article. You can have great schools/teachers/programs in older schools. Things that need to be fixed, fix it as you have the money (just like when you own a house). The people made it very clear and we will watch them like a hawk if they try to put this up again.

Is this an editorial? : 2/11/2010
I'm going to echo the comments below. Mr. Gannon, are you a journalist, or a non-Riverhead tax paying activist for the school? Please try to remain objective and limit your opinions to the editorial page.
Now listen clearly Mr. Gannon, if you are going to try to sway public opinion through heavily biased reporting, and assist the school board in picking the pockets against the clearly expressed will of the residents, then don't be surprised when we pressure your advertisers to stay out of this rag. Make no mistake Mr. Gannon, your antics are well known in this town, and as regretful as it may be, we can and will send this paper to join Suffolk Life if you can not remain objective.

school : 2/11/2010
ok why to expand on the schools its big already and the money could be put to other things for the school like computers trips and other school activitys and funding save the money dont spend it all to just expand the building but to expand the education of the students by geting more books,computers, and smart bords =] so im happy it didnt pass thru sorry ! =]

: 2/11/2010
Was this an opinion editorial or a news article?? The opening paragraph sure does sound slanted. Blew our chance? Ha - Scricca has already stated the options will be reviewed starting on the 23rd. Don't think this idea is dead at all!!
Oh, and fyi Mr school board member, the problems with Main St is all about TOWN government mismanagement and greedy landlords. Show me the causal link of that issue to the school bond proposal...PLEASE.

breeding stupid : 2/11/2010
I don't think bankrupting everyone that will have to pay for this proposal is the way to pull Riverhead Town out of the "dump".
I think most agree with a majority of the proposal but not other parts. Why the board can't revise it is beyond me. This attitude of "my way or no way" is not the way to run a school district. I say vote them all out and start all over. Their heavy handedness in this is disgusting. What are they saying to the people?

Stupid breeds Stupid : 2/11/2010
How, how do you expect to pull this town out of the dump if you don't invest in it. You are all the same; complain, complain, complain....yet sit and not do a thing about making it better. God forbid you actually get up and do something other that complain!!!!!!! WAKE UP.