Planning for Excellence
Curriculum & Instruction
Curriculum & Instruction Headlines
Brenden Cusack Thrives in New District Office Post
Brenden Cusack’s transition to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in Huntington UFSD is complete as the seasoned administrator is thriving after moving to the central office from his previous post as high school principal.
Trustees Approve Partnerships for College Math Credit
Huntington School Board members approved a pair of proposals to partner with colleges to offer Huntington High School students the option of acquiring college credit for completing Statistics and Advanced Placement/College Computer Science A in the 2025/26 school year.
Huntington UFSD trustees approved changes to the math course sequence.
Huntington School Board members approved a proposal to resequence three math Regents courses beginning with the 2025/26 school year. Assistant Superintendent Brenden Cusack outlined the reason for the change and answered questions regarding it.
Summer Classroom Fun in Huntington
The Huntington UFSD’s elementary grade level summer program kicked off on July 6 with dozens of hardworking and enthusiastic young learners turning out to strengthen their skills as budding writers, inquisitive researchers and persevering mathematicians.
Brenden Cusack Appointed Assistant Superintendent
Brenden Cusack is joining Huntington UFSD’s central administration team after Huntington School Board members appointed the veteran high school principal as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. A search will commence immediately for his successor as principal.
Summer Reading for Huntington High School Students
A regular diet of summer reading is essential for Huntington High School students, who should never be without a book. Whether to get a little bit ahead in their studies or just for pure fun and general enjoyment, summer reading is a must for all of the teenagers.
Summer Reading for Huntington UFSD Elementary Students
Reading can be an awful lot of fun. Many J. Taylor Finley Middle School students already know this truth. Huntington UFSD hopes it will be a widespread accepted fact this summer as teachers and administrators are encouraging everyone at Finley to read often throughout July and August.
Summer Reading Fun for Finley Students
Reading can be an awful lot of fun. Many J. Taylor Finley Middle School students already know this truth. Huntington UFSD hopes it will be a widespread accepted fact this summer as teachers and administrators are encouraging everyone at Finley to read often throughout July and August.
Trustees Approve Revised SIFE Math Fundamentals Proposal
A revised course proposal for SIFE (Students with Interrupted Formal Instruction) Math Fundamentals at Huntington High School has been approved by the Huntington School Board. Annual enrollment in the full year course is expected to total about 20 ninth graders in the 2024/25 school year.
Trustees Approve Anatomy & Physiology Course Revision
A revision to Huntington High School’s Anatomy & Physiology science course has been approved by Huntington School Board members. Trustees took the action during a public meeting on Monday night at the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School auditorium.
Huntington UFSD Captures Stronger Connections State Grant
Huntington UFSD has captured a New York State Education Department Stronger Connections grant in the amount of $202,515. The grant supports an expansion of safe, health and supportive learning opportunities and environments and to prevent and respond to acts of bullying, violence and hate.
Trustees Approve New Physical Education Courses
Huntington School Board voted unanimously to approve five new physical education courses that will be open to students in grades 9-12. Team Sports, Individual/Lifetime Sports, Personal Fitness, Dance, Yoga & Mindfulness and Unified Physical Education will be semester-long courses that students can schedule during the 2024/25 school year.
Trustees Approve Video Broadcasting III Course
The popularity of Huntington High School’s new video broadcasting program has led to addition of a new course for the 2024/25 school year: Video Broadcasting III. Annual registration is expected to initially include as many as a dozen juniors and seniors.
New Huntington Teachers Welcomed at Orientation
A group of 34 excited new Huntington School District teachers participated in an orientation program last week in preparation for what everyone hopes will be long and successful careers for the incoming faculty members.
New Contemporary Music Course Approved by Trustees
Huntington School Board members have approved a new high school music course titled, “Contemporary Music: Jazz, Hip-hop, Rap & More.” The class will be available in the 2024/25 school year. The one semester course will be open to students in grades 9-12. Enrollment is estimated to total 40.
New Anthropology Course Approved by Trustees
A new anthropology course is coming to Huntington High School after Huntington School Board members gave final approval to the proposal. The one-semester long class will be open to students in grades 10-12. Enrollment is estimated to total 25. The new course will be available during the 2024/25 school year.
Visual Journaling Class Coming to Huntington High School
A new Visual Journaling class will be coming to Huntington High School in September 2024 now that Huntington School Board members have given their approval to a proposal to establish the course. Huntington UFSD’s Subject Matter Council and Educational Development Committee gave their approval in March.
New Finley Music Course Approved for 2023-24
Huntington School Board members gave their approval for a new Band Instrumental Methods course at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. It will debut in September 2023 with an expected enrollment of about 20 seventh graders.
New Foundations of Education Course Approved
Huntington School Board members have approved a new Sociological and Philosophical Foundations of Education course that will be available to students for the first time during the 2024/25 school year. The half-credit, one semester elective class will be offered to juniors and seniors. Enrollment is estimated to total 25.
Trustees Approve Educational Psychology Course
Huntington School Board members approved a new Educational Psychology course. It will be implemented in the 2024/25 school year. Registration will be open to students in grades 11-12. Enrollment in one semester class is expected to total about 25 students.
Curriculum and Instruction Important Information
Assistant Superintendent For Curriculum & Instruction
Brenden Cusack
631-673-2036
bcusack@hufsd.edu
Kisha Fowlkes, Secretary for Curriculum & Instruction
631-673-2035
631-824-9609 FAX
kfowlkes@hufsd.edu
District Offices
50 Tower Streeet, Huntington, NY 11746
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Shared Decision Making Plans
Shared Decision Making Building Goals
- Huntington High School School Based Team Goals for 2024-25
- Finley Middle School School Based Team Goals for 2024-25
- Woodhull Intermediate School School Based Team Goals for 2024-25
- Jack Abrams STEM School Based Team Goals for 2024-25
- Flower Hill Primary School School Based Team Goals for 2024-25
- Jefferson Primary School School Based Team Goals for 2024-25
- Southdown Primary School School Based Team Goals for 2024-25
- Washington Primary School School Based Team Goals for 2024-25
Shared Decision Making Committee Minutes
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19
2017-18
2016-17
2015-16
2014-15
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
Consolidated Application/ Title I Funding:
The Consolidated Application is an annual application that captures funds the Federal Government provides to schools through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The application consists of four subgrants: Title I, Title IIA, Title III, and Title IV. Title I funds provide school districts money to support programs for students at-risk of not meeting state standards in reading, math, science and social studies. Title I funds are the largest source of funding to K-12 schools. Title IIA funds support effective instruction. Title III funds support programs for English Language Learners and Immigrant students, and Title IV funds focus on Student Support and Academic Enrichment.
Consolidated Application planning and feedback is ongoing through building Shared Decision Making (SDM) teams, as well as the Districtwide Shared Decision Making (SDM) team. Please reach out to your building SDM Team to provide suggestions and comments on Consolidated Grant funding. Additionally, drafts of the Consolidated Application are available for review from July 15th until August 15th each year. The current Consolidated Application is available by request. Please contact Nancy Allard at 631-673-4294 or nallard@hufsd.edu.
- Title I Parent/Family Engagement Policy (English/Spanish)
- Complaint Procedures (English/Spanish)
- Title I School Parent Compacts (English/Spanish)
- Title I Annual Parent Meeting Presentation
- Title I Annual Parent Meeting Presentation (Spanish)
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)/Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRSSA)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, two stimulus packages were passed by Congress: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRSAA).
The Huntington School District received $5,671,448 in ARPA funding and $2,523,467 in CRSAA funding.
ARPA funding focuses on:
- Supporting the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services
- Addressing the impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence-based interventions.
- Ensuring interventions respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs
- Addressing the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, English language learners, racial and ethnic minorities, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care.
CRSAA funding focuses on:
- Relief funds to address the impact of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had and continues to have on elementary and secondary schools. (ESSER 2-Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief)
- Funds to support educational agencies with emergency assistance to address the impact of COVID-19. (GEER-Governor’s Emergency Education Relief)
Please see attached documentation on the Huntington Union Free School District’s implementation of ARPA and CRSSA funding. Public comment regarding the Huntington Union Free School District’s ARPA spending plan can be shared here:https://forms.gle/kHpEp9xfQ8YDYxbk7
For additional information or comments regarding the American Rescue Plan and/or CRSSA grant funding, please contact Nancy Allard at 631-673-4294 ornallard@hufsd.edu.
ARPA and CRSSA plans as well as, alternate methods of communication, and alternate languages are available upon request. Please contact Nancy Allard at 631-673-4294 ornallard@hufsd.edu.
Supporting Documentation:
- ARPA Plan Highlights
- ARPA-ESSER APPLICATION
- ARPA Presentation
- ARPA ESSER BUDGET
- ARPA ESSER Ammendments
- ARPA BUDGET NARRATIVE
- CARES (GEER-ESSER) Budget
- CARES Budget Narrative
- CARES Funding Application
- CRSAA (ESSER 2) Application
- CRSAA Budget
- CRSAA Budget Narrative
- CRSAA Budget Ammendment
About The Curriculum & Instruction Office
Learning Standards come to Life
The assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction oversees the academic disciplines and special areas, and works with the district directors and principals to link the New York State Learning Standards to the content areas.
Curriculum, Research, Testing, Intervention
In the Huntington Union Free School District we provide students with a high quality core curriculum in social studies, Languages Other than English, science, mathematics and English language arts. Students also participate in other learning experiences that include physical education/health, art, music, technology and business.
The assistant superintendent is also responsible for research, testing and academic intervention services provided to our students district wide. This office is responsible for providing professional development opportunities for our professional teaching staff and others through workshops and conferences, and our New Teacher Orientation program.
District Wide Curriculum and Performance Assessments
Classroom instruction in each curriculum area is guided by the New York State Learning Standards. These standards articulate the skills, knowledge and understandings students need in order to become educated citizens. Student performance toward these standards is measured by classroom assessments, periodic benchmark assessments and the New York State assessments. The office of curriculum and instruction is responsible for the development of curriculum guides that assist our teachers in their development of daily lesson plans.
Development, Guidance and Compliency
The assistant superintendent, directors, assistant principals and chairpersons, work closely with our building principals in the supervision of instructional staff. They maintain their expertise in their fields of study through continual professional development. The office of curriculum and instruction responds to New York State Department of Education mandates and initiatives to ensure that our programs of study are compliant with federal and state guidelines.
Asst. Superintendent for C & I
Brenden Cusack
Curriculum & Instruction
Brenden Cusack has been Huntington UFSD’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction since July 9, 2024. Prior to that he had been Huntington High School’s principal since July 1, 2015.
Mr. Cusack earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education at SUNY New Paltz in 1995 and a Master of Science degree in adolescent education/English 7-12 at CUNY Queens College in 2002. He obtained a professional diploma in school administration and supervision at CUNY-Queens College in 2005.
Prior to being named principal, Mr. Cusack served as Huntington High School’s assistant principal for three years. He earlier worked as assistant principal at Hicksville High School for three years. Prior to that position, he was an administrative dean at Walt Whitman High School for four years.
A Freeport High School English teacher for eight years, Mr. Cusack taught Advanced Placement literature and theatre arts, served as a class advisor for four years, chaired the Middle States Committee on Educational Programs and produced school plays. He also was employed as an assistant principal of the Freeport School District’s summer school program and assistant principal and principal of the Western Suffolk BOCES regional summer school.
After coming to Huntington in 2012, Mr. Cusack embraced the high school’s academic, co-curricular and athletic programs and worked tirelessly to improve the student experience. He could often be found during after school and evening hours attending games, plays, concerts and induction ceremonies as well as meeting with students and parents.
Many new courses, programs, spirit activities and extracurricular opportunities were initiated under Mr. Cusack’s leadership during his time at Huntington High School. He has been widely known as an advocate for students and staff members and as an approachable, receptive and understanding building leader.
The veteran educator maintains memberships in numerous district and professional organizations. Mr. Cusack participated in school leadership training at Harvard College in 2015. He has been trained in restorative practices.
Mr. Cusack is entering his 29th year in education in 2024/25.
Curriculum & Instruction Office Programs
Information Coming Soon
200+
Challenging Academic Courses
14
Academic Departments
30+
Interscholastic Athletic Teams
90+
Colleges and Universities accepting 2020 HHS Graduates