HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — South Huntington School District residents will head to the polls Tuesday, May 19, to vote on the district’s proposed $227,993,621 budget for the 2026-27 school year, along with a capital proposition and two Board of Education seats.
District officials said the proposed spending plan reflects a 2.44 percent increase over the current year’s $222,568,493 budget. The proposed tax levy increase is 2.44 percent, remaining within New York State’s property tax cap.
“The South Huntington School District continues to present a budget that has been developed through a collaborative approach with all facets of the school community,” Board of Education President Nicholas Ciappetta and Superintendent Dr. Vito M. D’Elia wrote in the district’s budget message.
District officials said the budget supports academics, athletics, computer science, social-emotional learning initiatives and ongoing facility improvements throughout the district. The spending plan also comes as the district prepares to open the new Memorial 6th Grade Center and Silas Wood Pre-K Center during the upcoming school year.
The district said the amount each homeowner ultimately pays in school taxes will depend on property assessments assigned by the Town of Huntington later this year.
The major investments in the proposed budget include a $6,667,275 transfer to capital for districtwide facility improvements and renovations, along with $1,592,838.90 allocated for the purchase of new buses to replace aging vehicles and expand the district fleet.
Planned capital improvement projects include renovations and upgrades at multiple schools across the district, including improvements to Walt Whitman High School tennis courts, parking and entranceways, renovations at Silas Wood and Stimson Middle School, boiler replacements at Countrywood Primary Center and additional athletic field and site work at Memorial.
District officials also want to continue investments in mental health services and school security.
“For the 2026-2027 school year, Social Emotional Learning will continue in all schools P-12,” the district said, noting its continued partnership with Northwell Health. The district also said it remains committed to maintaining highly trained security personnel and enhancing safety features districtwide.
Proposition 2
In addition to the budget vote, residents will decide on Proposition 2, which would authorize capital improvements for the Boiler Replacement Project at Countrywood Primary Center.
According to the district, the project would be funded in part through proceeds from the sale of district-owned property located at Central Field and 2 Melville Road in Huntington Station, as well as remaining funds previously authorized for a boiler replacement project at Walt Whitman High School.
District officials said the project would not exceed $600,000.
Board Of Education Election
Voters will also elect two candidates to two available Board of Education seats. The terms are for three years.
The candidates are Andrew Bronson and Sidney Joyner. Both are running unopposed.
Joyner currently serves as senior vice president at Inwood Property Development LLC and previously held leadership roles within Suffolk County government, including Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Director of Real Estate in the Department of Economic Development and Planning. He was first elected to the South Huntington Board of Education in 2017 and also serves as a commissioner for the Town of Huntington Housing Authority.
Bronson has served as a trustee on the South Huntington Board of Education since 2017. A longtime district resident, he also serves on the district’s Audit, Curriculum and Policy committees and has volunteered throughout the community as a youth sports coach and school volunteer.
The district’s public hearing on the proposed budget was scheduled for May 6 at the James Kaden Administrative Offices in Huntington Station.
Voting will take place from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Walt Whitman High School, located at 301 West Hills Road in Huntington Station.
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