Farewell to Trustees Richard McGrath and John Paci
Huntington School Board members wished departing trustees Richard McGrath and John P. Paci III a fond farewell during the group's final meeting of the year in the Jack Abrams School auditorium. Both trustees are retiring after deciding not to run for re-election.
Mr. McGrath just completed his fifth three-year term for a total of 15 years, which makes him one of the longest serving members in the history of the Huntington School Board. Mr. Paci served two three-year terms or six years. The departing trustees are both Huntington High School graduates.
"These two gentlemen have helped shape Huntington into the fine community that exists today," Superintendent James W. Polansky said. School Board President Emily Rogan took the lead in formalizing recognizing the retiring trustees, presenting each of them with a plaque at the end of her remarks. Mr. Polansky also spoke about their service.
Messrs. McGrath and Paci also took turns at the microphone recapping their tenure on the board. Mr. McGrath utilized a PowerPoint presentation to review some of the initiatives he has been involved in.
"Not everyone knows this, but Rich was the one who really wanted us to hire Mr. Polansky," Mrs. Rogan said. "He kept pushing for us to bring him in for an interview. And at first, my reaction was, 'Well, I probably won't like him because Rich does so much,' and was prepared to offer a resounding 'no.' Well we all know how that worked out and I quite clearly was wrong. So I publicly want to say thank you Rich, you were absolutely right. One of the best decisions we ever made.
A certified public accountant, Mr. McGrath is a national sales director of Thomson Tax and Accounting, Inc, a Thomson-Reuters tax processing company. He heads up sales and field support for the company's 1099 Information Reporting division.
"The truth is, I believe that in the time we served together, the things that united us stand out more than those that divided us," Mrs. Rogan said. "We share a profound love and passion for this school district and community, and while we haven't always agreed on the ways to get there, we both want our schools to be the best that they can be and for Huntington to remain a place that people are proud to call home."
A 1975 graduate of Huntington High School, Mr. McGrath received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Long Island University in 1979. He has been a longstanding member of the district's Audit Committee, which helps to provide oversight in dealing with Huntington's internal and external auditors and he has represented the school board on the Town of Huntington's Affordable Housing Task Force and Huntington Station Revitalization Committee.
"Your passion for our sports programs, particularly our varsity lacrosse team, is unmatched," Mrs. Rogan said. "I know one of the first faces I'll see at every game is yours. Years after your own boys graduated you're still a fixture at every game."
Mr. McGrath and his wife Laura Jean are the parents of twin boys, Kenneth, a junior at LIU Post and John, a junior at Adelphi University. An avid long distance runner and fitness devotee, Mr. McGrath has successfully completed five New York City marathons, two Boston marathons and one Long Island marathon and can frequently be found running along area streets and through local neighborhoods.
"You've also been a voice for the people whom we don't often hear from; the taxpayers who don't have kids in the district or who are long retired and struggling on fixed incomes," Mrs. Rogan said. "You've always reminded us to think beyond our schools, out into the community, to those folks. And I think that's a big reason we get such strong support for our budget at the polls each year. An effective board needs a balance of voices and points of view. You have provided that."
Since coming to the district in July 2011, Mr. Polansky has built a strong working relationship with Mr. McGrath. "If it were not for Rich's persistence in terms of encouraging me to apply, I might not be part of this wonderful school community today," Mr. Polansky said. "His energy and enthusiasm, and his love for Huntington are unparalleled. During the two years we worked together, his encouragement has been invaluable. And with his sons long graduated, his constant presence on sporting event sidelines and at district events has been beyond appreciated."
"Fifteen years on a school board is honorable and impressive and deserves everyone's respect and gratitude," Mrs. Rogan said. "While school board service has its personal rewards, we also know it can often be a difficult, thankless job. You have seen it all Rich, the good, the bad and the ugly. I hope you leave knowing that you have served this community well and confident that the district is in very good hands."
Paci Recognized for Service as Trustee
Mr. Paci and his wife Kelly are the parents of three children. He has been a resident of the district since the age of 11 and graduated from Huntington High School in 1990, earning a full athletic scholarship to Indiana University, where he was the starting quarterback for the football team for three years. He is employed by the Wall Street firm, Morgan Stanley.
"Your service over the past six years, John has been invaluable," Mrs. Rogan told Mr. Paci. "We haven't always agreed, but you have always been clear and straightforward about your beliefs and what matters to you for this district. Like so many of us on the board, your loyalty to this community runs deep and I know how much work you've put into your time on the board. You have always been about the issues."
Mr. Paci, who won the 1989 Hansen Award as Suffolk's top football player, obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in business in 1994. During his collegiate athletic career he completed 262 of 494 passes for 3,119 yards and 15 touchdowns at quarterback for Indiana University. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation's Long Island Hall of Fame in 2008. His 99-yard touchdown pass at Penn State on November 6, 1993 set an NCAA Division I record. He also threw a 75-yard touchdown pass in the 1993 Independence Bowl.
"Your understanding of contracts and negotiations has helped us immeasurably," Mrs. Rogan said. "Your shoes, metaphorically speaking, will be tough to fill. Your background and history has given you a deep understanding of school districts and how they work; it's been a tremendous asset to our team."
Mr. Paci played professional football in the World League of American Football with the Barcelona Dragons and the Frankfurt Galaxy and in the National Football League with the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins. He was nominated for the NFL Man of the Year Award in 1997.
"For you, it's also been about the work and getting it done," Mrs. Rogan said. "You've helped keep us on task and focused. You are not about wasting time. You're not interested in the limelight either; at football games and other school events, you're not there to be seen, you're there because you want to be and you care."
Following his retirement from pro football in 1999, Mr. Paci embarked on a successful Wall Street investment banking career. Despite his professional commitments, he has supported the school district in several ways including volunteering at practices, mentoring students, helping them achieve their academic and athletic goals and supporting numerous PTA, Booster Club and Huntington Foundation events. He has also delivered motivational speeches in schools across Long Island, a practice he began while playing for the Jets.
"What I can personally attest to, after six years of working together, is your incredible memory," Mrs. Rogan told Mr. Paci. "I've been able to rely on you to recount facts and events that have long slipped from my mind; you kept every detail, every meeting stored away. It's been so helpful during both executive and public sessions. Apart from my first year, my entire board experience has included you. It will be different without you there and I will miss working together. We have found each other agreeing on some things and disagreeing about others, but you have always been respectful and kind to me."
Mr. Paci was involved in the effort to bring Mr. Polansky to the Huntington School District. "John and I built a strong relationship right from the start," Mr. Polansky said. "I have come to know him as an intelligent, hardworking professional who cares deeply about his family and the Huntington school community. He rarely receives enough credit for his sense of humor. He has been a tremendous asset to me during my first two years in the Huntington superintendency and I wish him well in the years to come."