Abrams school eyed in Huntington plan

The Huntington school district's final long-range plan options all include reopening the Jack Abrams School, which was closed last year over safety concerns.

The district's Long-Range Planning Facilities Committee presented its three final options at Monday night's board meeting. The option that received the most support from committee members includes using Flower Hill, Jefferson, Washington and Southdown primary schools for kindergarten through third grades; Abrams for fourth and fifth grades; and Woodhull Intermediate for sixth grade and administrative offices. J. Taylor Finley Middle School and Huntington High School would operate as they do now. The plan is estimated to cost $9 million.

The board did not discuss the plan despite several residents asking about implementation.

Even though the agenda listed the committee's presentation under "items for discussion and action," the meeting "was meant to be a short presentation to present their [the committee's] findings and acknowledge their hard work," newly elected school board president Emily Rogan said.

"I just want to make sure every step is made to get the proper information to the community because I think it would be less divided if everybody has the facts," said Amy Girimonti, who has three children in district schools.

The district is split over whether the Abrams School should be reopened to students. Board members last summer voted to close the Huntington Station school after a 16-year-old girl was shot nearby. Abrams is being used for some nonclassroom activities.

Superintendent James W. Polansky said at Monday's meeting that as the district moves forward, it must first deal with the division in the community about Abrams' future.

"We cannot, as a district, move forward in a divided fashion. . . . It will prevent the students from achieving academically, and we cannot let that happen," he said.

The planning committee was formed in June 2010, one month before the school board voted to close Abrams.

Rogan said she and new board members needed time to work together before discussing the plan.