New Huntington schools chief named

The Huntington School Board has selected James W. Polansky, assistant superintendent of South Huntington school district, as its new superintendent.

"I have no doubt he's the right guy for the job," board president William P. Dwyer said of Monday night's unanimous vote for Polansky's appointment. "I can't find a person who knows a thing about Huntington who has a bad word to say about him."

Polansky will take over July 1 from Superintendent John J. Finello, who is retiring after 39 years in the Huntington school district. His annual salary will be $200,000, according to Dwyer.

As principal of South Huntington's Walt Whitman High School, where he served for more than six years, Polansky was named the 2010 New York State High School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State. He also taught science for nearly 10 years at Syosset High School and was the director of science for the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District.

Polansky said in an email that he was thrilled with the opportunity to serve as superintendent and was looking forward to working with the members of the Huntington school community.

"I think his resume and experiences speak for themselves," said John P. Paci III, school board vice president.

Polansky joins a district grappling with budget cuts, overcrowding and the fate of shuttered Jack Abrams School in Huntington Station.