Riverside Institute of Technology

Riverside Institute of Technology
Riverside Institute of Technology
Address
	51 Ontario Street; Riverside; Buffalo, Erie, New York 14207; United States
Coordinates	42°56′51″N 78°54′20″W / 42.947427°N 78.905489°W
Information
Type	Public, Coeducational
Closed	2019
School district	Buffalo Public Schools
School number	205
Grades	9–12
Campus type	Urban
Color(s)	Purple and Gold
Athletics conference	Section VI
Team name	Frontiers
Yearbook	The Skipper

Riverside Institute of Technology (formerly known as Riverside High School) was a public high school located in Buffalo, New York. It served Grades 9–12 and taught according to the Board of Regents. Riverside closed in June 2019 after years of low academic performance and safety concerns.

History

Riverside High School began construction in the late 1920s and was completed in time for the 1930 school year. Beginning in 1993, the school also housed the Buffalo Academy of Math and Science a magnet school for Grades 7 and 8. In 1999, the two schools merged and the name of the school was changed to "Riverside Institute of Technology", however, the Grade 7 and 8 component only lasted for a few years.

The building was renovated from 2008 to 2010. The new renovations included updated classrooms and improvements to the auditorium, as well as a new weight room, sports vailiion and football field. While the school was being renovated, 9th and 10th graders were temporarily housed at School 51 in nearby Black Rock, while 11th and 12th graders remained in the Riverside building.

In 2015, Riverside Institute of Technology began phasing out due to low academic performance. The final Riverside class graduated in 2019. It was replaced by the new Riverside Academy High School, which opened in Fall 2017.

Former Principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

Charles W. Whitney–1930-1944 (Assistant Principal - Hutchinson Central High School, retired)
Raymond W. Spear–1944-1957 (Acting Principal - Bennett High School, retired)
Carl S. Walz–1957-1971 (Assistant Principal - Riverside High School, retired)
Michael J. Anelli–1971-1980 (Assistant Principal - East High School, named Principal of City Honors School)
Doris H. Erickson–1980-1985 (Assistant Principal - Southside Junior High School, named Principal of South Park Prep)
Nicholas F. DiPirro–1985-1987 (Assistant Principal - Seneca Vocational High School, named Assistant Principal of Hutchinson Central Technical High School)
John J. Vella–1987-2004^[1] (Assistant Principal - Bennett High School,^[2] retired^[3])
Michael J. Mogavero–2004-2010 (Principal - Buffalo Traditional School,^[4] named director of athletics for Buffalo Public Schools^[3])
Denise E. Clarke–2010-2015 (Assistant Principal - Riverside Institute of Technology, named Principal of Lafayette High School)
Ella M. Dunne–2015-2017 (Instructional Specialist - Bennett High School, named Principal of The International Preparatory School)
Jerome J. Piwko–2017-2019 (Principal - Native American Magnet School, resigned^[5])

Notable alumni

Joe Ehrmann – Former defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts
Clifford Robinson – Former NBA player, notably played for the Portland Trail Blazers
Mike Williams – Wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills in the National Football League

Academics

Riverside had three small learning communities within its school: The Academy of Entrepreneurship, the Academy of Finance, and the Academy of Health Sciences. Students earned internships, college credit, and job shadowing through these academies. If successful, they graduated with both a Regents Diploma and a CTE endorsement in their academy from Buffalo Public Schools. Riverside also had multiple community partners, including Medaille College, HSBC, Kaleida Health, and the National Academy Foundation.^[6]

In 1990, Riverside was named a School of Excellence by New York State for its high test scores and attendance.^[7] It held this distinction for a number of years, but was placed on New York State's list of Persistently Lowest Achieving schools in 2010 due to poor test results and graduation rates.^[8] This resulted in a number of changes at Riverside, including a new administration and grant funding from New York State.

References

^ Mills, R. P. (2004). New York State School Report Card Comprehensive Information Report. Albany: New York State Department Of Education.
^ VELLA, John. (n.d.). The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 1, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2018/10/07/vella-john/
^ ^a ^b Buffalo Public Schools (2004, August 25). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
^ Buffalo City Schools. (2004). Elementary Principal Transfers. Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine Board Report (p. 3). Buffalo: Buffalo City Schools.
^ Rey, J. (2019, June 20). Principal at Riverside resigns amid Wingo gun flap. The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 1, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2019/06/20/principal-at-riverside-resigns-amid-wingo-gun-flap/
^ Riverside. (2012, August). Retrieved from http://www.buffaloschools.org/GuidanceDept.cfm?subpage=84143&school=52
^ Hammersley, M. (1990, December 13). Schools in Buffalo, Ken-Ton districts achieve the state grade for excellence. The Buffalo News
^ Simon, P. (2010, January 22 22). 7 buffalo schools on state list face reforms - measures include changing staff, moving students. The Buffalo News, p. A1.

External links

School Website

[04SchoolReport-1] Mills, R. P. (2004). New York State School Report Card Comprehensive Information Report. Albany: New York State Department Of Education.

[Vella-2] VELLA, John. (n.d.). The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 1, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2018/10/07/vella-john/

[2004Aug25-3] Buffalo Public Schools (2004, August 25). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.

[PrincipalTransfers-4] Buffalo City Schools. (2004). Elementary Principal Transfers. Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine Board Report (p. 3). Buffalo: Buffalo City Schools.

[Wingo-5] Rey, J. (2019, June 20). Principal at Riverside resigns amid Wingo gun flap. The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 1, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2019/06/20/principal-at-riverside-resigns-amid-wingo-gun-flap/

[HSA-6] Riverside. (2012, August). Retrieved from http://www.buffaloschools.org/GuidanceDept.cfm?subpage=84143&school=52

[SOE-7] Hammersley, M. (1990, December 13). Schools in Buffalo, Ken-Ton districts achieve the state grade for excellence. The Buffalo News

[PLA-8] Simon, P. (2010, January 22 22). 7 buffalo schools on state list face reforms - measures include changing staff, moving students. The Buffalo News, p. A1.

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v t e Buffalo Public Schools
Elementary Schools	PS 3 D'Youville Porter Campus PS 6 Buffalo Elementary School of Technology PS 17 Early Childhood Center PS 18 Dr. Antonia Pantoja Community School of Academic Excellence PS 19 Native American Magnet School PS 27 Hillery Park Elementary PS 30 Frank A. Sedita Academy PS 31 Harriet Ross Tubman School PS 32 Bennett Park Montessori PS 33 Bilingual Center PS 37 Marva J. Daniel Futures Preparatory School PS 43 Lovejoy Discovery School PS 45 International School PS 48 @ 39 PS 50 North Park Academy Community School PS 53 Community School PS 54 Dr. George E. Blackman ECC PS 59 Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet Annex 59A PS 61 Early Childhood Center PS 64 Frederick Law Olmsted PS 65 Roosevelt ECC PS 66 North Park Middle Academy PS 67 Discovery School PS 69 Houghton Academy PS 72 Lorraine Elementary PS 74 Hamlin Park School PS 76 Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy PS 79 Pfc. William J. Grabiarz School of Excellence PS 80 Highgate Heights PS 81 School PS 82 Early Childhood Center PS 84 Health Care Center for Children at ECMC PS 89 Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence PS 92 BUILD Academy Community School PS 93 Southside Elementary PS 94 West Hertel Academy PS 95 Waterfront School PS 97 Harvey Austin School PS 99 Stanley M. Makowski Early Childhood Center
Middle/High Schools	PS 131 The Academy School PS 156 Frederick Law Olmsted School at Kensington PS 192 Buffalo Academy for Visual & Performing Arts PS 195 City Honors School PS 197 Math, Science, Technology Preparatory School PS 198 The International Preparatory School
High Schools	PS 206 South Park High School PS 207 Lafayette International High School PS 208 Riverside Academy High School PS 212 Leonardo da Vinci High School PS 301 Burgard High School PS 302 Emerson School of Hospitality PS 304 Hutchinson Central Technical High School PS 305 McKinley High School PS 309 East Community High School PS 335 Middle Early College High School PS 353 Newcomer Academy @ Lafayette PS 355 The New Buffalo School of Culinary Art & Hospitality Management PS 357 Pathways Academy @ East PS 363 Lewis J. Bennett School of Innovative Technology PS 366 Research Laboratory High School PS 402 Occupational Training Center
Notable Defunct Schools	PS 8 Follow Through Magnet School 13 School 24 School 44 School 57 School 60 School 63 School 77 School 87 Fosdick-Masten Park High School PS 192 Buffalo Traditional School PS 200 Bennett High School PS 202 Grover Cleveland High School PS 203 Kensington High School PS 204 Lafayette High School PS 205 Riverside Institute of Technology PS 302 Emerson Vocational High School PS 306 Seneca Vocational High School PS 307 East High School