Huntington board details intermediate-school reconfiguration, new programs for grades 4–6
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Summary
Superintendent McCoy presented the district’s intermediate reconfiguration for 2026–27: incoming grade‑4 students will attend schools by address (Jack Abrams or Woodhall), two dual-language sections will start at Jack Abrams, project‑based learning will expand in grade 4, and some siblings may be grandfathered by request.
Superintendent McCoy told the Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education on Jan. 12 that the district will implement an intermediate‑school reconfiguration beginning with the 2026–27 school year, assigning incoming fourth‑grade students to schools based on location and expanding several programs.
Under the plan, Flower Hill and Washington primary students will attend Jack Abrams School while Southdown and Jefferson students will attend Woodhall Intermediate. The superintendent said siblings may be grandfathered into current intermediate buildings upon request and that special‑education placements and other programmatic exceptions will be accommodated on a case‑by‑case basis.
Instructional changes include weekly project‑based learning for fourth graders, expanded 'Learners Who Lead' and Innovation Lab offerings in grades 5–6, and a dual‑language expansion at Jack Abrams where two dual‑language sections will be offered beginning in grade 4. FIRST LEGO League content will be available to all students during Innovation Lab; selection for the extracurricular club will follow existing criteria and offer 10 sixth‑grade slots at each building.
The district is piloting science and social‑studies materials in classrooms and has budgeted stipends for Math Olympiads club leaders and transportation for intermediate clubs. Building signage changes were noted for Jack Abrams to reflect the reconfiguration.
Parents will receive a letter (expected the week following the meeting) with instructions to request grandfathering for siblings; officials said responses are due back in February (exact date not specified). The district will hold grade‑4 orientations in August for incoming Jack Abrams and Woodhall students and has posted presentations and supporting materials on the district website.
"This is just the logistical overview," McCoy said during the presentation, adding that a monthly cross‑district team of assistant superintendents, deputy superintendent staff and intermediate principals has been reviewing details to ensure continuity and equity across buildings.
Board members praised the planning work and emphasized community engagement and communications as the district moves toward the 2026–27 school year.
The rollout will move forward alongside the district’s budget process and other policy updates approved at the Jan. 12 meeting.