Classes are Now in Session in Huntington UFSD

It’s official. The summer vacation is over. Students, faculty and staff are returning to classrooms on Wednesday morning with renewed vigor as the Huntington School District swings back into action with hopes running high for its best year ever.

Buses were rolling early this morning to begin their high school runs. Huntington Coach Corp. transportation service for the district is fully up and running as is the food service program’s breakfast and lunch services for students and staff in every building. All other services are also a go, including libraries and computer labs.

Club advisors have been appointed and high school teams have been practicing for several weeks. Teams at Finley will get underway this week.

Superintendent Beth McCoy and her administrative team have worked together over the past several weeks to smooth out any obvious bumps in the road. But they also realize some unforeseen ones might become visible, whether they concern student schedules or bus issues. Officials said the district is ready to respond in short order to whatever needs to be adjusted.

Fifteen new faculty members have been appointed over the summer and countless support staff members have also joined the Huntington team. Hundreds of boxes filled with supplies have been delivered to schools. Facilities staff members continued with last minute preparations through the weekend.

District officials were expected to fan out among all eight schools for the arrival of students, greeting those on every grade level as they get dropped off.

A few years after the town was settled a group of community members came together to hire Jonas Holdsworth as the first school teacher in Huntington. He commenced class on February 11, 1657 in a private home. Huntington UFSD traces its origins to that day, 369 years ago.

Few communities in the country can match such a long association with public education. Teachers came and went, but classes continued without interruption. The first public schoolhouse was erected in 1660.

All these years later, Huntington UFSD is stronger than ever and just as vital to the community and its young people as ever. The district is also free of its long-term bonded debt after making the last payment this past June 30.

About 4,000 students will settle into district classrooms on Wednesday. All classes are staffed by fully licensed teachers. Huntington UFSD’s eight buildings have never looked better after a summer filled with renovation projects.

Huntington High School is opening its doors on Tuesday to more than 1,300 students spread across grades 9-12. Today’s high school faculty members and students are continuing a very long tradition that few can match in the state.

Since 48 leading citizens came together in 1793 and pledged the funds needed to erect a school building devoted to providing the young people of the community with a classical high school education, Huntington has been on the cutting edge of classroom instruction and has been sending its graduates to the top colleges in the country and into every imaginable career field.

The New York State Legislature passed a law on April 13, 1857 authorizing creation of the Union School District of Huntington. It is said to have been the first district organized in the state for providing public education beyond eighth grade.