The Riverhead Board of Education approved financing for the district’s energy performance contract, announced the appointment of a new Roanoke Elementary School principal and took action on a series of routine business items at its April 21 meeting held at Riverhead Middle School.
Board members approved a resolution authorizing financing through TD Bank for the district’s $27.5 million energy performance contract after the district received proposals from TD Bank, Bank of America and Capital One, officials said.
Energy performance contracts allow public entities to finance capital improvements using guaranteed energy savings. In Riverhead’s case, the project comprises 34 separate upgrades across eight schools, with no impact to the district’s property-tax payers. State building aid will reimburse about 37.6% of eligible costs, while rebates and incentives are expected to total $5.7 million, according to district documents.
The energy-saving work to be done includes the installation of solar photovoltaic arrays at seven school buildings. Six of the systems will be mounted on parking-lot carports and one, at Phillips Avenue Elementary School, will be ground-mounted.
Other improvements include: LED lighting upgrades in every building; boiler and burner replacements; new natural gas service to Phillips Avenue and Riley Avenue schools; building-management system improvements; new unit ventilators at two schools; transformer replacements; weatherization and insulation upgrades; high-efficiency pumps and motors; and software and control systems that reduce electricity use by computers, air-conditioning equipment and other devices.See prior story.
The board last Tuesday also announced that Jessica Farmer, currently assistant principal at Pulaski Street School, has been appointed principal of Roanoke Elementary School. She will succeed Mr. Payton, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
In other business, the board voted to approve the 2026-2027 BOCES administrative budget and cast its vote for BOCES board candidates.
Trustees also accepted the results of the special district meeting for the Riverhead Public Library and Baiting Hollow Public Library vote.
Trustees also appointed election workers for the annual district meeting May 19, at which district residents will vote on the district’s proposed 2026-2027 budget and fill four seats on the board of education.See prior story.
Trustees accepted two donations, including a $1,500 gift from the Suffolk County chapter of the New York State School Facilities Association to fund a scholarship for a graduating senior and about $200 in building supplies from Riverhead Building Supply for use in a Roanoke Elementary School play.
Source: RiverheadLOCAL
