Riverhead Charter School alerts families after reported ICE activity near bus stop

Riverhead Charter School warned families after reports of possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity near a bus stop used by bus 312, a message that moved quickly through ClassDojo and community chat groups and stirred fear among parents already on edge.

Superintendent Raymond Ankrum said the school sent the notice directly to parents through ClassDojo so families would see it quickly rather than hear about it later through rumor. The alert was precautionary, based on reports from several parents and a school board member who said they had seen agents near the stop. At the time of the warning, there was no official confirmation of federal agents in the area.

The speed of the reaction showed how fragile calm can be around a school bus stop in Riverhead. Once the notice began circulating, parents shared it on social media, in WhatsApp groups and in other community messaging networks, turning a single report into a broader burst of anxiety. Several parents speaking anonymously said they were relieved the school reached out quickly, while also describing fear and uncertainty in a community where some families worry about being targeted even when they have legal status.

Riverhead Charter School is a tuition-free public school of choice serving kindergarten through 12th grade students on Eastern Long Island. New York State Education Department data list 970 students for the 2024-25 school year, with authorized enrollment set at 1,189 for 2025-26 and 1,244 for 2026-27, underscoring how many families can be affected when a concern like this touches a school transportation stop.

The Riverhead alert landed in a town where ICE activity has already driven tension this year. In February, witnesses described masked agents and arrests in Riverhead, including activity near school-bus drop-off times, and OLA Eastern Long Island said the East End had seen an uptick in raids while pressing for public-safety legislation. Earlier, more than 200 Riverhead High School students walked out on Jan. 16 to protest ICE and deportation policies, a sign of how deeply the issue has reached classrooms and families.

New York State guidance issued in January 2025 reaffirmed that children ages 5 to 21 are entitled to a free public education regardless of immigration status. For Riverhead families watching the bus stop on Sound Ave., the May 28 alert was more than a message on an app. It was a reminder that school routines can shift in an instant when rumors of enforcement reach the neighborhood.