Meet our Board of Trustees

Public Comment Guidelines

The Riverhead Charter School Board welcomes public comment during most regular meetings. Generally, School Board members do not respond to public comment during the meeting. Letters and emails may be sent to rcsboard@rcsli.org or by postal mail to Riverhead Charter School, Attn: Board of Trustees, 3685 Middle Country Road, Calverton, NY 11933.

Time & Speaking Limits

Each speaker may speak for up to three minutes. A timer is visible to speakers, and speakers should conclude their remarks when the buzzer sounds. The Board allows a maximum of 30 minutes for public comment during the portion of the meeting dedicated to Public Commentary. Delegations of more than five persons should appoint one spokesperson. If there are a large number of speakers, the Board reserves the right to limit the total time for comment and/or reduce the time allotted for each speaker.

Topics for Public Comment

Speakers may address an item on a School Board agenda or an item not on the agenda during the public-comment portion. Comments should relate to Riverhead Charter School. The Board will not hear comments involving complaints about an individual staff member, personnel actions, student disciplinary matters, complaints about an individual student, or pending litigation. Individuals should follow Board policy when submitting complaints.

Decorum & Meeting Conduct

Speakers are expected to be courteous and address their comments to the entire School Board, not to an individual Board member, the Principal, the Director of Finance & Operations, a staff member, or the audience. Personal attacks, defamatory statements, and slanderous commentary are not permitted.

How to Sign Up to Speak

Speakers must register before the regular Board Meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Sign up by emailing rcsboard@rcsli.org, by postal mail to Riverhead Charter School, Attn: Board of Trustees, 3685 Middle Country Road, Calverton, NY 11933, or at the meeting by submitting a speaker slip to the clerk before the meeting begins. Speakers are called in signup order. A person may not speak more than once on a specific topic; a separate request is required for each additional topic. Anyone requesting an interpreter should contact the Board at 631-369-5800 ext. 2260 at least three business days before the meeting.

Complaint Policy

Any individual or group may bring a complaint to the Board of Trustees alleging a violation of Article 56 of Education Law, the charter, or another provision of law relating to the management or operation of the charter school. Complaints should be sent in writing to the President of the Board of Trustees. If a person cannot make a written complaint, an audiotape or advocate may be used. A person may express the complaint in their primary language and may request an interpreter.

The President may refer the complaint to the Principal as a first step. If that is not acceptable to the complainant, the President will schedule time at the next Board meeting to hear the complaint, no later than 30 days after receipt. The complaint should describe the issue in reasonable detail. The Board will respond in writing or by another appropriate means within 10–15 business days after the meeting. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the response, they may appeal to the Board of Regents.