Assemblymember Tommy John Schiavoni (D-Sag Harbor) joined Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on July 22 at the future site of the Long Island Head Start (LIHS) Riverside Head Start Center to announce $2.25 million in state funding to construct a new modular facility. The new building will allow LIHS to fully restore early childhood education services to families in the Riverhead Central School District.
“I am grateful to Speaker Heastie for coming to Riverside today to see firsthand the importance of restoring full Head Start services to this community,” said Schiavoni. “Long Island Head Start plays an essential role in the lives of working families. This new facility will give children in the Flanders-Riverside area a safe, permanent place to learn and grow.”
The previous Riverside Head Start building was forced to close prior to the 2024–25 school year after renovations uncovered severe structural issues. The closure displaced 88 children, including 55 enrolled in the universal pre-kindergarten program. A temporary location was secured, but it could only serve 28 children, leaving 60 without access to vital services.
The $2.25 million in state funding will support the construction of a modular facility on the Riverside property, enabling LIHS to expand capacity and resume full services.
“Head Start and early childhood education is so vital to children’s development, and programs like LIHS are a vital part of our communities,” Heastie said. “This new location for the Riverside Head Start Center will allow them to restore services for families here in Riverhead and prepare kids for school and for bright futures.”
“We are immensely grateful to Speaker Heastie and Assemblyman Schiavoni for this monumental contribution,” said Ms. Debrah Everett-Garcia, Chief Executive Officer of Long Island Head Start. “Their leadership and support will help restore access to high-quality early childhood education and essential family services for our most vulnerable populations.”