South Huntington school board candidates outline priorities at American Legion forum

At a forum moderated by American Legion Post 1244, three candidates for the South Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education presented priorities that included universal prekindergarten, building repairs and upgrades, the district's current elementary-school configuration and concerns about the cost of zero-emission school buses.

The event, which featured incumbent board members and challengers answering prepared and audience questions, focused on practical district issues ahead of an upcoming school board election. Candidates traded specific proposals and described both accomplishments and challenges facing the district.

Incumbent William Bingasso, running for re-election, emphasized his classroom background and said he supports keeping the district's existing configuration of K-2, grades 3-5 and a sixth-grade center. "I 100% support keeping the current model we have in place here at South Huntington," he said, adding that the model's value became clearer after watching his daughter and other students move through it. Bingasso listed facilities work, fiscal…