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South Huntington Union Free School District board meeting, Sep 30, 2026

1 h 21 min · 1 public speaker

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 21 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Staff proposes lowering tax levy to $131.3 million after assessed value drops 35:18

  • A district staff member presented three scenarios for the schedule, with the first estimated at an additional $619,476 annually and the third at $112,632. 5:17
  • A district staff member said the district's assessed value fell from $42.1 million to $40.2 million and presented a proposal to decrease the tax levy to $131.3 million, a 1.4% year-over-year levy increase. 34:32
  • The board approved a request for two students to remain in the district for the school year only and without transportation. 1:03:34

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Item by item (12)
  1. Opening and executive session 0:00
    • The board took a motion to go into executive session to discuss personnel, potential and actual litigation and other matters. 0:00
  2. Proposed 9-period school day 3:13
    • The staff member said Scenario 1 would require 5.5 FTE at an estimated $619,476 annually, Scenario 2 would cost an estimated $506,844 with 4.5 FTE and Scenario 3 would cost 1 FTE or $112,632. 5:17
    • A district staff member said a 9-period day would keep the 8:07 start and 2:55 dismissal while removing 5 minutes from each course and reducing transition time from 4 minutes to 3 minutes. 7:38
    • One board member said the costs recur annually and that they were trying to find a sweet spot that would offer something without going fully in. 21:56
  3. Agenda adoption 27:50
    • The board took a motion to adopt the agenda. 27:54
  4. Communications 28:03
    • The board received multiple communications from residents about a new property tax exemption for permanently and totally disabled veterans. 28:03
    • A speaker at public comment asked the board to opt into the exemption. ~28:36
    • A district staff member said a meeting was scheduled with marching band leaders to review the band's requests. 32:26
  5. Financial items 33:11
    • The board took a motion on financial items C through H, including bids and bills. 33:11
  6. Annual tax levy and assessed value 33:25
    • A district staff member said the assessed value fell from $42.1 million to $40.2 million, including a $1.1 million reduction in the mall's assessment. 36:02
    • The staff member said the proposal would decrease the levy to $131.3 million, a decrease of $1,247,672, and the average homeowner could see an increase of roughly $590. 43:00
    • Frederick Scragg asked whether future payments in lieu of taxes would be available for budget planning. 54:31
  7. Request for students to remain 1:03:34
    • The board considered a request for two students in 1st grade and 8th grade to remain in the district for the rest of the year without transportation. 1:03:34
    • The request was approved for the school year only and without transportation. 1:04:07
  8. Outside counsel, license agreement and conference 1:04:46
    • The board considered hiring independent outside counsel to complete an investigation of a complaint. 1:04:53
    • A district staff member presented a license agreement with Truly Cross for the fall season with an anticipated fee of roughly $1,930. 1:05:20
    • The board considered a request for the school facility director to attend a conference from October 4th through October 7th. 1:05:54
  9. Out-of-state field trips 1:06:12
    • The board considered a trip for approximately 100 National Honor Society students to Washington, D.C., and a physics trip to Hersheypark on May 28th. 1:06:21
    • Andrew D. Bronson asked why the trip had changed to Hersheypark. 1:07:08
  10. Curriculum Council report 1:10:13
    • Linda O. LaCara also reported on summer school, a multi-tiered system of support framework and annual goals. 1:10:40
    • Linda O. LaCara said the district received formal approval from the United States Army for a JHROTC program, with recruitment beginning December 2026 for the 2027⁠-⁠28 school year. 1:11:08
    • Andrew D. Bronson thanked those involved in the summer school work. 1:13:04
  11. Announcements and upcoming events 1:13:46
    • A district staff member said the high school was selected as the 5th top high school in Suffolk County, 14th in Long Island and 42nd in the state. 1:14:06
    • A district staff member said Hispanic Heritage Night moved to October 13th and homecoming on October 23rd would have no fireworks show because of a new turf field. 1:14:42
  12. Closing executive session 1:20:10
    • The board took a motion to go into executive session to discuss litigation, employee matters and student matters. 1:20:10

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “BOE Meeting 9.30.26”