63.0°,
A Few Clouds Valley Stream CHSD super issues apology after alleged gym spat
Central High School District Schools Superintendent Dr. Bill Heidenreich issued an apology to the school community on Sunday after he reportedly threatened to “cough on everyone” at his local gym in response to notifications that his membership would soon be unfrozen.
On Dec. 5, the New York Post reported that in a series of text and voice messages sent to the gym in mid-November, Heidenreich told staff at an Orangetheory Fitness location in Merrick that he was self-isolating after coming in contact with someone who had tested positive for the coronavirus, and would pose a danger to gym-goers if his membership was unfrozen.
“I’m demanding that you freeze my membership for another month,” Heidenreich could be heard saying in one of the voice messages obtained by the Post, “if you don’t I’m going to cough all over everyone.”
“I’m happy to come in there and spread the disease and cough all over everyone,” he said in another message.
In response, the gym reportedly notified Nassau County police, but ultimately decided to cancel his membership instead of pressing charges, the Post also reported.
Shortly after the article’s publication, Lauriel Orsano-Morales of Franklin Square circulated a petition, calling for Heidenreich to resign saying, “Our children deserve better than to have their leader say such disturbing remarks.”
As of press time on Tuesday, the petition had received 523 signatures.
In an email sent on Sunday, Dec. 6 to the Central High School District community, Heidenreich said he had “acted inappropriately” to notifications from the gym, which he said he felt were “harassing in nature,” and apologized.
“My family has recently been addressing a difficult and traumatic issue,” he added. “However, there is no excuse for my comments.”
