Huntington board elects Xavier Palacios president, Theresa Sullivan vice president and confirms reorganization appointments

The Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education elected Trustee Xavier Palacios president and Trustee Theresa Sullivan vice president at its annual reorganization meeting on July 1, 2025, and approved a series of routine appointments for the 2025–26 school year.

The election of Palacios was moved by Trustee Theresa Sullivan and seconded by Trustee Kelly Donovan; the vote was unanimous. Palacios and Sullivan were administered the oath of office at the meeting. Palacios recited: "I, Xavier Palacios, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of The United States and the constitution of the state of New York, and I will faithfully discharge the duties of board president." Theresa Sullivan repeated the oath after being named vice president.

The board, acting on Superintendent Beth McCoy's recommendations, confirmed several administrative appointments for 2025–26, including Blake Dunn as district clerk and Kim Zelman as deputy district clerk; Joe Miranda as district treasurer and Christine LeHi as deputy treasurer. The board also appointed legal and audit firms: Guercio & Guercio as general counsel (retainer $57,500); a firm listed as labor counsel with a retainer of $95,500 and a litigation hourly rate of $290 for certain matters; Naaraki Smith LLP as claims auditor ($36,990 annually); Collin Andanowski LLP as external auditor ($52,000 annually); and Sereny & Associates LLP as internal auditor ($26,750 annually). All motions to appoint these officials and firms carried unanimously.

Trustees named committee assignments and community representatives for the 2025–26 year, including members of the audit and policy committees and school-level liaisons such as a districtwide safety team member and wellness committee representative. Newly elected trustees Jenna Prada and John Weston had taken the oath earlier in the day and were noted during the reorganization.

The board completed the standard administrative designations that accompany the annual reorganization — including designating bank depositories, certifiers of payroll, petty cash custodians and the district's designated educational official — all by unanimous votes. Several procedural oaths for district clerk and treasurer were administered at the meeting or scheduled for the next business day.

The actions institutionalize who will sign contracts, certify payrolls and serve as points of contact for district operations through the 2025–26 school year.