The superintendent of Riverhead Central School District is stepping away temporarily.

The district announced that Dr. William Galati as acting superintendent of schools effective Friday through Oct. 23.

The Board of Education said this was necessary as current superintendent Dr. Augustine Tornatore will be using vacation and personal leave days during that period.

The news come following recent racist incidents at Riverhead High School, including the use of racial slurs at a football game and swastikas drawn on desks.

Tornatore had come under fire by the local NCAAP and some parents for those events.