Riverside Institute of Technology

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.

Riverside Institute of Technology
Address
51 Ontario Street Riverside Buffalo , Erie , New York 14207 United States
Coordinates	42.947427°N 78.905489°W / 42.947427; -78.905489
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

History

Riverside High School began construction in the late 1920s and was completed in time for the 1930 school year. In 1999, the name of the school was changed to "Riverside Institute of Technology" and was renovated from 2008-2010. The new renovations included updated classrooms and improvements to the auditorium, as well as a new weight room 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

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

Former Assistant Principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

• Mr. Raymond Spear–1930-1942 (Science teacher - Bennett High School, named Assistant Principal of Bennett High School)
• Mr. Lloyd A. Miller–1942-1946 (Guidance Counselor - Riverside High School, returned to teaching)
• Dr. Irwin H. Himmele–1946-1948 (Vice Principal - Lafayette High School, named Assistant Superintendent for Buffalo City Schools)
• Mr. Lloyd Miller–1948-1952 (Guidance Counselor - Riverside High School, named Vice Principal of East High School)
• Mr. Robert C. McGowan–1952-1956 (Guidance Counselor - Lafayette High School, named Vice Principal of East High School)
• Mr. Carl Walz–1956-1957 (Assistant Principal - Bennett High School, named Principal of Riverside High School)
• Dr. A. Benjamin Ravine–1957-1969 (Vice Principal - School 72, took medical leave)
• Ms. Suzanne M. Kestner–1963-1966 (Social Studies teacher - Grover Cleveland High School, named Director of Social Studies for Buffalo Public Schools)
• Mr. Franklin R. Weitz–1966-1967 (Science teacher - South Park High School, named Assistant Principal of Bennett High School)
• Mr. Michael Anelli–1967-1970 (Social studies teacher - Riverside High School, named Assistant Principal of East High School)
• Mr. James A. Farley–1969-1980 (Social Studies teacher - Seneca Vocational High School, named Assistant Principal of City Honors School)
• Mr. Summer Nunley [interim]–1970-1971 (Science teacher - Riverside High School, returned to teaching)
• Mr. Charles L. Sodaro–1971-1979 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, named Assistant Principal of Grover Cleveland High School)
• Mr. John R. Robinson–1973-1974 (Science teacher - Clinton Junior High School, named Assistant Principal of Bennett High School)
• Mr. William F. Blomberg, Jr.–1979-1982 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, retired)
• Mr. Harry E. Adams–1980-1987
• Mr. Alfred H. Rasp–1982-1985 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, named Assistant Principal of Burgard Vocational High School)
• Mr. Gary R. Lopez–1985-1995 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, returned to Kensington)
• Mrs. Mary Agnes Scanlon [interim]–1985-1986 (Administrative Assistant - Riverside High School, returned to position)
• Mrs. Susan M. Doyle–1990-1994 (Special Education coordinator - Buffalo Traditional School, named Principal of Buffalo Traditional)
• Mr. Thomas F. Vitale–1994-1999 (Educational Diagnostician - Buffalo Public Schools, named Principal of P.S. 42 Occupational Training Center)
• Mr. Gary R. Lopez–1999-2010[6] (Assistant Principal - Kensington High School, retired[7])
• Ms. Carol A. Wilson–?-2007 (Business teacher - Riverside High School, retired[8])
• Ms. Louise A. Klier–2007-2009 (Assistant Principal - International School 45,[9] named Assistant Principal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Institute[10])
• Mrs. Denise Clarke–2009-2010 (Assistant Principal - Lafayette High School,[10] named Interim Principal of Riverside Institute of Technology[11])
• Mrs. Laura M. Samulski-Peters–2010-2014 (Academic Intervention teacher - Riverside Institute of Technology, named Instructional Specialist at Buffalo Public Schools)
• Mrs. Aarin J. Pelliteri–2010-2015 (Assistant Principal - Math, Science, Technology Preparatory School, named Assistant Principal of Emerson School of Hospitality)
• Mr. Jason B. Madden–2011-2015 (English teacher - Buffalo Academy of Science, named Assistant Principal of Burgard Vocational High School)
• Mr. David B. Thomas, Jr.–2014-2015 (Dean of Students - School 115, named Assistant Principal of North Park Middle Academy)
• Mr. Patrick J. Doyle–2014-2017 (Math teacher - Riverside Institute of Technology, named Assistant Principal of The International Preparatory School)
• Mr. Martin S. Buchnowski–2016-2018 (Dean of Students - Riverside Institute of Technology, named Assistant Principal of The International Preparatory School)
• Ms. Colleen M. Cunningham–2018-2019 (Supervisor of School Leadership - Buffalo Public Schools, named Assistant Principal of Riverside Academy)

Former Administrators

School 51, where some Riverside students were housed during its reconstruction

Year	Superintendent	Principal	Assistant Principal(s)
1930-1931	Ernest Hartwell	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1931-1932	Ernest Hartwell	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1932-1933	Ernest Hartwell	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1933-1934	Ernest Hartwell	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1934-1935	Ernest Hartwell	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1935-1936	Robert Pabst	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1936-1937	Robert Pabst	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1937-1938	Robert Pabst	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1938-1939	Robert Pabst	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1939-1940	Robert Pabst	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1940-1941	Robert Pabst	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1941-1942	Robert Pabst	Charlie Whitney	Ray Spear
1942-1943	Robert Pabst	Charlie Whitney	Lloyd Miller
1943-1944	Robert Pabst	Ray Spear	Lloyd Miller
1944-1945	Robert Pabst	Ray Spear	Lloyd Miller
1945-1946	Robert Pabst	Ray Spear	Lloyd Miller
1946-1947	Robert Pabst	Ray Spear	Irvin Himmele
1947-1948	Robert Pabst	Ray Spear	Irvin Himmele
1948-1949	Robert Pabst	Ray Spear	Irvin Himmele
1949-1950	Robert Pabst	Ray Spear	Irvin Himmele
1950-1951	Benjamin Willis	Ray Spear	Lloyd Miller
1951-1952	Benjamin Willis	Ray Spear	Lloyd Miller
1952-1953	Benjamin Willis	Ray Spear	Rob McGowan
1953-1954	Parmer Ewing	Ray Spear	Rob McGowan
1954-1955	Parmer Ewing	Ray Spear	Rob McGowan
1955-1956	Parmer Ewing	Ray Spear	Rob McGowan
1956-1957	Parmer Ewing	Ray Spear	McGowan/Walz
1957-1958	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine
1958-1959	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine
1959-1961	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine
1961-1962	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine
1962-1963	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine
1963-1964	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine	Suzanne Kestner
1964-1965	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine	Suzanne Kestner
1965-1966	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine	Suzanne Kestner
1966-1967	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine	Frank Weitz
1967-1968	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine	Mike Anelli
1968-1969	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ben Ravine	Mike Anelli
1969-1970	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Ravine/Farley	Mike Anelli
1970-1971	Joseph Mench	Carl Walz	Summer Nunley*	Jim Farley
1971-1972	Joseph Mench	Mike Anelli	Charlie Sodaro	Jim Farley
1972-1973	Joseph Mench	Mike Anelli	Charlie Sodaro	Jim Farley
1973-1974	Joseph Mench	Mike Anelli	Charlie Sodaro	Jim Farley	John Robinson
1974-1975	Joseph Mench	Mike Anelli	Charlie Sodaro	Jim Farley
1975-1976	Eugene Reville	Mike Anelli	Charlie Sodaro	Jim Farley
1976-1977	Eugene Reville	Mike Anelli	Charlie Sodaro	Jim Farley
1977-1978	Eugene Reville	Mike Anelli	Charlie Sodaro	Jim Farley
1978-1979	Eugene Reville	Mike Anelli	Charlie Sodaro	Jim Farley	Paul Weisenburger
1979-1980	Eugene Reville	Mike Anelli	Bill Blomberg	Jim Farley
1980-1981	Eugene Reville	Doris Erickson	Bill Blomberg	Jim Farley
1981-1982	Eugene Reville	Doris Erickson	Bill Blomberg	Harry Adams
1982-1983	Eugene Reville	Doris Erickson	Al Rasp	Harry Adams
1983-1984	Eugene Reville	Doris Erickson	Al Rasp	Harry Adams
1984-1985	Eugene Reville	Doris Erickson	Al Rasp	Harry Adams
1985-1986	Eugene Reville	Nick DiPirro	Gary Lopez	Mary Scanlon
1986-1987	Eugene Reville	Nick DiPirro	Gary Lopez	Harry Adams
1987-1988	Eugene Reville	John Vella	Gary Lopez
1988-1989	Eugene Reville	John Vella
1989-1990	Alfred Thompson	John Vella
1990-1991	Alfred Thompson	John Vella	Susan Doyle
1991-1992	Alfred Thompson	John Vella	Susan Doyle
1992-1993	Alfred Thompson	John Vella	Susan Doyle
1993-1994	Alfred Thompson	John Vella	Susan Doyle
1994-1995	Alfred Thompson	John Vella	Tom Vitale
1995-1996	Alfred Thompson	John Vella	Tom Vitale
1996-1997	Jim Harris	John Vella	Tom Vitale
1997-1998	Jim Harris	John Vella	Tom Vitale
1998-1999	Jim Harris	John Vella	Tom Vitale
1999-2000	Jim Harris	John Vella	Gary Lopez
2000-2001	Marion Canedo	John Vella	Gary Lopez
2001-2002	Marion Canedo	John Vella	Gary Lopez	Carol Wilson
2002-2003	Marion Canedo	John Vella	Gary Lopez	Carol Wilson
2003-2004	Marion Canedo	John Vella	Gary Lopez	Carol Wilson
2004-2005	Yvonne Hargrave*	Mike Mogavero	Gary Lopez	Carol Wilson
2005-2006	James Williams	Mike Mogavero	Gary Lopez	Carol Wilson
2006-2007	James Williams	Mike Mogavero	Gary Lopez	Carol Wilson
2007-2008	James Williams	Mike Mogavero	Gary Lopez	Louise Klier
2008-2009	James Williams	Mike Mogavero	Gary Lopez	Louise Klier
2009-2010	James Williams	Mike Mogavero	Gary Lopez	Denise Clarke
2010-2011	James Williams	Denise Clarke*	Aarin Pellitieri	Laura Samulski
2011-2012	Amber Dixon*	Denise Clarke	Aarin Pellitieri	Laura Samulski	Jason Madden
2012-2013	Pamela Brown	Denise Clarke	Aarin Pellitieri	Laura Samulski	Jason Madden
2013-2014	Pamela Brown	Denise Clarke	Aarin Pellitieri	Laura Samulski	Jason Madden
2014-2015	Don Ogilvie*	Denise Clarke	Martin Buchnowski*	Patrick Doyle*	Jason Madden
2015-2016	Kriner Cash	Ella Dunne	Aarin Pellitieri	Patrick Doyle	Dave Thomas
2016-2017	Kriner Cash	Ella Dunne	Martin Buchnowski	Patrick Doyle
2017-2018	Kriner Cash	Jerry Piwko	Martin Buchnowski
2018-2019	Kriner Cash	Jerry Piwko	Colleen Cunningham

* denotes interim appointment

Notable alumni

• Joe Ehrmann–Former defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts
• Clifford Robinson–Retired NBA player, notably played for the Portland Trail Blazers
• Mike Williams–Wide receiver for the 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.[12]

In 1990, Riverside was named a School of Excellence by New York State for its high test scores and attendance.[13] 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.[14] This resulted in a number of changes at Riverside, including a new administration and grant funding from New York State.

Bell Schedule

Period Number	Beginning Bell	End Bell
Period 1	7:58	8:43
Period 2	8:46	9:26
Period 3	9:29	10:09
Period 4	10:12	10:52
Period 5	10:55	11:35
Period 6	11:38	12:17
Period 7	12:20	1:00
Period 8	1:03	1:43
Period 9	1:46	2:26
Period 10	2:30	3:10

References

1. Mills, R. P. (2004). New York State School Report Card Comprehensive Information Report. Albany: New York State Department Of Education.
2. VELLA, John. (n.d.). The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 1, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2018/10/07/vella-john/
3. Buffalo Public Schools (2004, August 25). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
4. Buffalo City Schools. (2004). Elementary Principal Transfers. Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine Board Report (p. 3). Buffalo: Buffalo City Schools.
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/
6. Pasiack, M. B. (2010, August 17). Profile: Riverside Institute of Technology. The Buffalo News.
7. Buffalo Public Schools (2010, June 9). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
8. Buffalo Public Schools (2007, May 23). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
9. Buffalo Public Schools (2006, August 22). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
10. Buffalo Public Schools (2009, July 8). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
11. Buffalo Public Schools (2010, December 1). Meeting of the Board of Education: Administrative Appointments.
12. Riverside. (2012, August). Retrieved from http://www.buffaloschools.org/GuidanceDept.cfm?subpage=84143&school=52
13. Hammersley, M. (1990, December 13). Schools in Buffalo, Ken-Ton districts achieve the state grade for excellence. The Buffalo News
14. 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