October 2, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am writing to provide you with an important update regarding the transportation matter I shared with you yesterday. After working closely with our transportation provider and receiving word from the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, we can now confirm that the incident under investigation did not involve any student from the Islip School District.

To be clear, this bus driver was removed from service as soon as our transportation provider was made aware of the arrest, and as soon as we could gather pertinent and accurate information, we notified our school community.

While this driver was not an employee of our school district, it is important you know we work closely with our transportation ​provider to make sure their drivers meet the highest standards of safety and conduct. In addition to the pre-employment background and ​safety checks completed by our transportation ​provider, as listed in yesterday's letter, representatives from our transportation department visit the transportation ​provider on an annual basis. During these visits, our ​representatives review a random sampling of drivers' pre-employment ​and employment records. This includes studying the drivers' abstracts, physical results, DMV requirements, and driver certification reports. Additionally, our representatives conduct in-person interviews with a random sampling of drivers.

It may also comfort ​you to know every school bus in our district is equipped with cameras that record both audio and video of interactions on the bus. There are indicator lights in the dashboard that inform the driver if the cameras are not functioning properly, and the transportation provider has ​a routine maintenance schedule.

While we know no Islip student was involved in this allegation against the driver, out of an abundance of caution, we will be reviewing all footage from Bus D for the days this driver was in service. These safeguards provide additional measures of accountability and protection for our students.

News of this nature is always unsettling; however, the safety and well-being of our students will always be our top priority. We will continue to do all we can to ensure a safe and secure environment. As always, your partnership in these efforts is appreciated. Perhaps this news offers an opportunity to speak with our children about the importance of maintaining personal space and reminding them to seek the help of a trusted adult the moment they experience something they know is wrong or simply does not make them feel right.

Please contact me directly at either number below if you have any questions, concerns, or additional information.

Sincerely,
Dennis P. O'Hara, Ed.D.
Superintendent of ​Schools
Office: 631-650-8210
Cell: 516-315-6723