District Seeks Community Members for New Committee to Talk Bus Barn

After months of debate over moving the Riverhead school district's bus barn – an idea that was voted down by public referendum in May — a new committee is being organized to vet alternatives.

To that end, the Riverhead Central School District has invited residents and landowners to join a community and district effort to design and implement an overhaul of the transportation garage.

The district is asking for volunteers who can assist in either finding land appropriate for the district's bus facility to relocate the bus garage or re-designing the existing repair shops and parking areas.  

"Last May, the voters approved the creation of a savings account to allow us to replace our current facility, which is 90 years old," Superintendent Nancy Carney said. "We are hopeful that community members with expertise in real estate and transportation would be willing to help us to locate and design a facility that meets our needs and the financial needs of the taxpayers.

Currently, the transportation department is located in an "antiquated building on Osborn Avenue and occupies a central part of the district's main campus," Carney has said. 

As part of an effort to rehabilitate the area, the district is looking to explore other parcels in Riverhead that could serve as a new home to the department and the more than 100 buses that transport 5,000 students daily.

"Voters will have several opportunities to approve our plans," Board of Education President Ann Cotten-DeGrasse said. "Not only will they need to approve the acquisition of land, but they will also need to approve the expenditure of money from the savings account. These two votes ensure that the community will be involved in this process every step of the way."

Interested parties wishing to volunteer should send a letter to Superintendent Nancy Carney at 700 Osborn Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901 or by e-mail to nancy.carney@riverhead.net.

Volunteers will be asked to devote time to one or two evenings per month as the plan is developed and finalized.