Announcements:

Dear Connetquot Families,

As a follow up to my communication this morning, I am writing with a brief update regarding the rumors surrounding a social media posting alluding to potential violence at Connetquot High School. Since that initial posting, additional rumors have been circulating online and in the community. As a parent myself, I understand how these types of rumors can be troubling and create a sense of alarm. Therefore, I would like to take the opportunity to clear up several misconceptions, provide a brief update on the matter and explain our plan for moving forward.

Immediately after learning of the initial posting on Saturday evening, the district contacted the Suffolk County Police Department and officers began conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. At this time, SCPD has deemed that there is no creditable threat to the safety and security of our students or staff and are hoping to finalize the investigation shortly.  

Out of what I can only stress is an abundance of caution, the district will be expanding and enhancing our security protocols in the days to come.  SCPD officers, as well as a designated COPE officer, will be assigned to our school building this week to support the proactive work of our School Resource Officer and security team. The Police Department has said they would support our efforts beyond this timeframe if necessary and upon request. Furthermore, guests will notice an increase of security protocol at our front gate and both students’ and visitors’ bags will be subject to search upon arrival. Students are asked to leave any unnecessary bags, anything from drawstring bags to backpacks, at home if possible. Lastly, the district will deploy additional security guards throughout the building, both before and after school hours.

I must reinforce, that these efforts are being taken proactively and, in a desire, to ease any uncertainties our students, staff and community have as a result of most recent events. Please know that our district is extremely proactive – not only in light of these events but always. The safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority and something that we remain vigilant in protecting. 

One of the rumors circulating social media is that there was an incident or the threat of an incident at the football game on Friday evening. After conducting an investigation into this matter, this rumor was deemed false. However, it does serve as an important reminder to all. If you see something, say something and, while it can be a remarkable asset, social media is often the cause for the perpetuation of the rumor mill and can inflict harm on a very broad scale.

I ask for your help in creating a heightened sense of awareness for the appropriate and proper use of social media and other communication devices. Students need to understand that what is shared digitally – whether it be via text, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or any other medium – is not private. Those thoughts, photos and comments that are shared can be and are often seen, shared and interpreted by anyone, anywhere and at any time. Before the start of school, the SCPD issued a memo regarding this very matter. In the piece, which is posted on the district’s website, notes that they hold a ZERO TOLERANCE policy with regard to these types of school threats and will arrest and prosecute those responsible in criminal court.

Together, it is my hope that we can instill this important message in today’s youth, as we remind them – implore them – to think twice and think critically about the messages they send and the content they share.

If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact the main office at 631-244-2228. I look forward to seeing all of our students and staff tomorrow morning.

Sincerely,

Kenneth J. Costa Jr.

Principal 

Dear Oakdale-Bohemia Faculty, Staff and Community,

As we continue to face the environmental challenges brought on by the persistent heat and humidity, the District is expanding the scope of cleaning, remediation and subsequent monitoring that is taking place throughout Oakdale Bohemia Middle School. As part of these evolving efforts, we have recently detected several new areas affected by this challenge, including less utilized spaces such as closets and storage areas. As such, please know that we are remaining diligent in our efforts to resolve any issue as it arises and are steadfast in monitoring the situation.

Unfortunately, one of the newly questioned areas is the orchestra storage closet, located at the rear of the Large Group Instruction (LGI) area. The instruments stored in this area will be evaluated by RCS Musical Instrument and Repair Company and those that need to be professionally cleaned and/or repaired will be taken care of. In the meantime, we will begin the process of borrowing instruments from the rest the district to ensure that our OBMS orchestra students continue to practice and learn new material. Because of reports that there was continuing issues in the LGI, the district brought in experts yesterday (Sept. 19) to look at the area once again. Out of an abundance of caution, we closed the room today (Sept. 20) in order to allow outside contractors to have full access to expand their inspection of the room, including looking above the acoustical tiles housed within the rafters and the space above the ceiling panels. We will follow their advice pertaining to any additional remediation of the space, if necessary. Should any additional remediation be necessary, the district will follow up with further air quality testing. In the meantime, all classes that are normally scheduled for the LGI have been temporarily reassigned to other spaces in the building.

The most critical element to this process has been the tremendous amount of communication that is being generated between the custodial staff, the faculty and the community. Please continue to say something if you see something.

Our short-term remediation plan continues to include utilizing commercial-grade dehumidifiers in areas of high moisture, providing additional staff during normal working hours as well as staffing the school with custodial cleaning crews each weekend and all holidays that the school has been closed. Not only has this permitted us time to clean less-utilized spaces, it has allowed us to diligently monitor the building and clean additional areas that are identified as having any mold. Additionally we have scheduled refresher courses for our custodial staff on the most effective utilization of all of our cleaning supplies. 

As we maintain this effort of increasing the overall cleanliness of the building, we have been working with the teacher union leadership to coordinate an assessment of the building by NYCOSH (New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health). This organization will provide yet another lens by which to look at the building and the issues we are facing. Once their review of the building has taken place we anticipate posting the report online with all of the information that has been shared to date. Earlier this year, the district had visitation and monitoring by PESH (Public Employees Safety and Health) an arm of the Department of Labor. While they verbally gave us feedback that all of our processes were aligned with Federal standards and best practice, the district still has not received their formal report. As soon as it is made available to us, we will publish it on the website.

In order to remediate this issue for the long-term, the Board of Education has pledged financial support for capital changes and has directed the district’s architect to develop and submit plans to the State Education Department (SED). The first step in this process is filing a letter of intent to pursue capital work which the architect submitted to SED on September 13, 2018.

As we continue to keep you updated on both our short-term and long-term remediation of this ongoing challenge, please know that your input into things that you are experiencing and seeing helps us to fine tune our approach to this situation as well as find the cause, which can ultimately help us ensure that we come to a proper long-term solution.

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work through these challenges.

Sincerely, 
Dr. Lynda G. Adams 
Superintendent of Schools 

To our Students:
From our incoming Pre-K students to our High School Seniors, welcome to the 2018-2019 school year. The Connetquot faculty & staff has worked hard over the summer to make this school year the best it can be for each and every one of you. The administrative team, Board of Education, and faculty members have put in a great amount of time and effort preparing curriculum, classrooms and committees for another outstanding school year in all of our schools here at Connetquot. New teachers, textbooks and technology have been put in place to provide for a high-quality experience for all of you. I look forward to getting to know you. 

To our Parents:
As we work together toward our common goal of the success and well-being of our children, I look forward to another wonderful school year and the daily accomplishments of our students and staff. As the year unfolds, I will continue to ask for your input and participation in a number of the community committees that have been established and are working to invigorate different areas of our schools’ programs. We are very excited to be implementing the AP Capstone Program for the first time this year, continuing the Units of Study in writing and reading, expanding our STEM experiences at both the elementary and middle school levels and constantly looking for new ways to challenge students to become the best that they can be. As the year unfolds, I will continue to communicate with you all the ways you and your family can become involved in supporting our students as they excel in the classroom, on the stage and on the field!

Welcome back!

Sincerely,

Lynda G. Adams, Ed.D.
 
Superintendent of Schools