Trustees Expected to Appoint
New Superintendent
A new era is set to begin in the Huntington School District. The Huntington School Board is expected to act upon a resolution at tonight's meeting to appoint James W. Polansky as superintendent of schools effective July 1.
Mr. Polansky has been assistant superintendent for personnel and district services in the South Huntington School District since August 2010. Prior to his current position he served as principal of Walt Whitman High School for 6½ years. He was the 2010 New York State Principal of the Year.
"I'm excited to have Jim lead our district," Huntington School Board President Bill Dwyer said. "He has been successful in all he has undertaken and I look foreword to more of the same from him as our next superintendent."
Trustees have been conducting a search for a new superintendent since last fall. They retained the services of Western Suffolk BOCES to assist in the search and conducted several rounds of interviews with applicants. A community survey was conducted to determine the qualities that residents would like to see in a new superintendent.
Mr. Polansky obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude at SUNY Albany and a Master of Business Administration degree at Hofstra University. He earned an advanced graduate certificate in educational administration at SUNY Stony Brook. Mr. Polansky is enrolled in a doctoral program in educational and policy leadership at Hofstra University.
Current Huntington Superintendent John J. Finello will retire at the close of business on June 30 after a 39-year career in the district and a 52 year association with Huntington. Mr. Finello grew up in the district and attended school here from kindergarten through graduation with the Class of 1968. After earning an undergraduate degree at St. John's University in 1972, he began a teaching career at Huntington Elementary School, eventually moving into the administrative ranks. He was named superintendent in July 2001.