Huntington board confronts staffing changes after 261‑student enrollment decline
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Summary
Deputy Superintendent Christopher Hender told the Huntington Union Free School District Board on March 24 that enrollment has dropped by about 261 students, leading to proposed staffing adjustments across elementary and secondary schools; the board approved personnel schedules and was briefed on service and benefit pressures ahead of budget adoption.
Deputy Superintendent Christopher Hender told the Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education on March 24 that the district has lost roughly 261 students over the past year and a half, prompting "difficult decisions" about staffing and class sections for 2026–27.
Hender said the decline — a drop of about 128 students since 6/30/2025 and a larger cumulative fall since 2022 — led administrators to propose a net change of about -5.6 positions in elementary grades, -4.7 in secondary, and +1 in non‑instructional staff. He said the district follows New York State seniority rules when reductions are required and places affected teachers on a seven‑year preferred eligibility list for reappointment opportunities.
The district emphasized it is trying to limit program cuts and to reassign staff where certifications allow. "This is not something any of us really wanted to do," Hender said, adding that some positions could be absorbed through retirements or creative reassignments. He noted class‑size targets that informed the plan: middle school classes generally not exceeding 23 students and high school regents‑level classes not exceeding 25.
Assistant Superintendent for Finance Dr. Ruby Harris gave context for revenue pressures driving the staffing conversation. Harris said expense‑driven state aid has fallen by about $1.2 million, and pension and benefits trends are affecting the 2026–27 draft budget. "ERS has increased 16.55%," she said, and while TRS showed a projected decrease that reduces costs by roughly $705,000, health insurance and other benefits remain rising net pressures for the budget.
Board members asked about contingency plans if kindergarten or other enrollments shift; Hender said the district maintains contingency positions and monitors weekly enrollment projections up to the start of school. The board approved routine personnel items on listed schedules later in the meeting; administrators said further budget hearings and a revenue update are scheduled for April and the board will adopt the budget on April 21 ahead of the May 19 vote.
What happens next: the administration will present a revenue deep dive on April 13 and the board plans a budget adoption vote April 21. The public budget hearing is scheduled for May 11 and the district's budget vote and school elections are set for May 19 at Huntington High School, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
