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Reimagining South Huntington

District Priorities

Provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten for all South Huntington residents and maximize available State funding through the utilization of Memorial for South Huntington students�
Develop a long-term solution to address the aging portables at four elementary buildings�
Increase the inventory of District-owned school buses while decreasing our reliance on contracted bus services�
Maintain or enhance the current levels of diversity and equitable experiences present at all buildings�
Provide a cost effective option for before and after school child care at all elementary buildings

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�

Reimagining South Huntington

Provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten for all South Huntington residents and maximize available state funding through the utilization of Memorial for South Huntington students

� Benefits of Universal Pre-Kindergarten

Improved Academic Performance: UPK boosts early literacy, math, and language skills, leading to higher educational attainment later in life (NIEER, 2021; Perry Preschool Study, 2010).�
Increased Kindergarten Readiness: UPK prepares children for a smoother transition into kindergarten, equipping them with essential skills needed for early success in school (National Education Association, 2015).�
Early Identification of Students with Special Education Needs: Children who attend UPK are more likely to be identified and require fewer special education services later due to early identification and support for developmental delays (Siegel 2020, Journal of Educational Psychology, 2014).�
Enhanced Social-Emotional Development: UPK helps children develop better social skills, self-regulation, and emotional resilience (Harvard's Center on the Developing Child, 2017).

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Reimagining South Huntington

Provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten for all South Huntington residents and maximize available state funding through the utilization of Memorial for South Huntington students�

Benefits of Universal Pre-Kindergarten

Better Health Outcomes: Children in UPK programs have improved health and well-being, including better immunization rates and early health habits (Gormley, 2022; Urban Institute, 2021).�
Parental Workforce Support: UPK allows parents, especially in low-income families, to return to work, improving family financial stability (Urban Institute, 2021).�
Support for Cognitive Development: UPK stimulates brain development during a critical period, leading to improved memory, attention, and problem-solving skills (Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, 2017).�
Higher Graduation Rates: Studies show that children who participate in UPK are more likely to graduate high school and pursue higher education (Perry Preschool Study, 2010; Brookings, 2019).

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Reimagining South Huntington

Provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten for all South Huntington residents and maximize available state funding through the utilization of Memorial for South Huntington students

UPK Allocation Utilization Due to Space Limitations

SCHOOL YEAR	MAX UPK ALLOCATION	AMOUNT PAID TO THE DISTRICT PER OUTPUT REPORTS	FUNDS NOT ABLE TO BE UTILIZED DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS
2018-2019	$280,825	-$164,715	$116,110
2019-2020	$280,825	-$274,493	$6,332
2020-2021	$280,825	-$219,533	$61,292
2021-2022	$1,029,216	-$280,372	$748,844
2022-2023	$1,029,216	-$274,630	$754,586
2023-2024	$1,794,215	-$879,286	$914,929
2024-2025	$1,794,215	TBD

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Reimagining South Huntington

Develop a long-term solution to address the aging portables at four elementary buildings

For many years now the District's Facilities Committee has been meeting and discussing the lifespan of the portables at each elementary building.�
The cost to replace the portables with brick and mortar structures would cost approximately $20 million.*�
Where do we get $20 million to replace the portables ???

Put up a bond subject to voter referendum

Be creative with the assets and funds that we have available?

* Quote by H2M Architects at today's cost

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Reimagining South Huntington

Increase the inventory of District owned school buses while decreasing our reliance on contracted bus services

Over the past few years, we have been increasing our fleet of buses and drivers.

In doing so, we are able to:

Hire our own South Huntington employees
Increase our inventory of new buses
Provide additional bussing opportunities before and after school
Decrease our reliance on outside contracted bus companies
Save on the costs associated from using an outside company

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Reimagining South Huntington

Maintain or enhance the current levels of diversity and equitable experiences present at all buildings

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Reimagining South Huntington

Provide a cost effective option for before and after school child care at all elementary buildings

Regardless of Option

The District would like to explore providing child care at all buildings for UPK - 5th Grade students

Allowing for:

Specialized play environments with smaller age bands
Familiar and friendly SHUFSD staff members
No transportation shuttles needed

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Reimagining South Huntington

Many Factors to Consider

SEL

Cost

Safety

Academics

UPK

Enrollment

Spacing

Memorial

Research

Busing

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Reimagining South Huntington

Many Options Considered

Over the past 18 months many options were considered that included looking at numerous configurations, boundary lines, construction costs, student enrollment projections, building capacity, and transportation savings.

Based upon this research and the five District priorities, the Superintendent recommends to the Board of Education the consideration of the following four options:

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Option A

Countrywood, Oakwood, Maplewood and Birchwood all become K-4 buildings
Memorial building will house grades 5 and 6
Silas Wood will become a UPK Center

Building	Current 24/25 Enrollment	Building Projections Under Option A
MEMORIAL		800
OAKWOOD	644	482
COUNTRYWOOD	567	458
BIRCHWOOD	659	502
MAPLEWOOD	596	478
SILAS WOOD	423	400 UPK students

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Option A

Building Transitions

2026-2027 School Year	Maximum Number of Transitions K-6 Using Option A
Class of 2034 (5th)	2
Class of 2035 (4th)	2 (4th grade remains at BW/MW)
Class of 2036 (3rd)	2
Class of 2037 (2nd)	2
Class of 2038 (1st)	2
Class of 2039 (K)	1
Class of 2040 (UPK)	1
Class of 2041	1

CW, OW, MW, BW K-4

Memorial Intermediate

Grades 5 & 6

Silas Wood UPK Center

* Current model has 2 transitions

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Option A

Transportation Considerations

To maximize transportation savings, the following start and end time schedule is for the Board's consideration beginning in 2026-2027:

Buildings	Current Start and End Times	Buildings	Proposed Change
Walt Whitman HS (9-12)	7:25 - 2:10	Walt Whitman HS (9-12)	7:25 - 2:10
Stimson MS (7-8)	8:05 - 2:55	Stimson MS (7-8)	7:55 - 2:45
Silas Wood (6)	8:05 - 2:55	Silas Wood (UPK)	TBD
Birchwood (3-5)	9:15 - 3:30	Birchwood (K-4)	9:15 - 3:30
Maplewood (3-5)	9:15 - 3:30	Maplewood (K-4)	9:15 - 3:30
Countrywood (K-2)	8:20 - 2:35	Countrywood (K-4)	9:15 - 3:30
Oakwood (K-2)	8:20 - 2:35	Oakwood (K-4)	9:15 - 3:30
Memorial	N/A	Memorial (5-6)	8:10 - 3:00

CW, OW, MW, BW K-4

Memorial Intermediate

Grades 5 & 6

Silas Wood UPK Center

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Option A

Some of The Opportunities and Challenges

Opportunities	Challenges
Eliminates the need for portables at all four buildings Reduces time for school bus routes Continues level of Special Education and Dual Language programs No additional building transitions Expands the UPK program	Changes the current building model Additional playground structures needed 6th Grade will not remain as a stand alone building

CW, OW, MW, BW K-4

Memorial Intermediate

Grades 5 & 6

Silas Wood UPK Center

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Option B�

All Buildings (OW, CW, BW, MW, SW) become K-5 Buildings
Memorial building will house Grade 6 and Pre-K

Building	Current 24/25 Enrollment	K-5 Building Projection
MEMORIAL		423 + 400 UPK
OAKWOOD	644	484
COUNTRYWOOD	567	514
BIRCHWOOD	659	482
MAPLEWOOD	596	487
SILAS WOOD	423	399

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Option B

Building Transitions

2026-2027 School Year	Maximum Number of Transitions K-6 Using Option B
Class of 2034 (5th)	2
Class of 2035 (4th)	3
Class of 2036 (3rd)	2
Class of 2037 (2nd)	2
Class of 2038 (1st)	2
Class of 2039 (K)	1
Class of 2040 (UPK)	1
Class of 2041	1

CW, OW, MW, BW, SW K-5

Memorial Grade 6 &

UPK Center

* Current model has 2 transitions

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Option B

Transportation Considerations

To maximize transportation savings, the following start and end time schedule is for the Board's consideration beginning in 2026-2027:

Buildings	Current Start and End Times	Buildings	Proposed Change
Walt Whitman HS	7:25 - 2:10	Walt Whitman HS (9-12)	7:25 - 2:10
Stimson MS	8:05 - 2:55	Stimson MS (7-8)	7:55 - 2:45
Silas Wood	8:05 - 2:55	Silas Wood (K-5)	9:15- 3:30
Birchwood	9:15 - 3:30	Birchwood (K-5)	9:15 - 3:30
Maplewood	9:15 - 3:30	Maplewood (K-5)	9:15 - 3:30
Countrywood	8:20 - 2:35	Countrywood (K-5)	9:15 - 3:30
Oakwood	8:20 - 2:35	Oakwood (K-5)	9:15 - 3:30
Memorial	N/A	Memorial (6 & UPK)	8:10 - 3:00

CW, OW, MW, BW, SW K-5

Memorial Grade 6 &

UPK Center

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Academic Benefits of K-4 or K-5 School Buildings

In Options A & B

Academic Performance:

Continuity in schools leads to better academic performance, with higher reading and math scores compared to the Princeton model (Combs et. al., 2011; Brookings, 2022).�
Teachers can better track and support students' progress, leading to more effective learning (Matheney et.al., 2022).�
Neighborhood schools foster stronger community ties and parental involvement, enhancing student outcomes (Brookings, 2022).

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SEL Benefits of K-4 or K-5 School Buildings

In Options A & B

Social-Emotional Benefits:

Long-term relationships in K-5 schools enhance social-emotional skills, critical for academic success (Rimm-Kaufman, 2015; Child Development, 2022).�
Stable school environments lower anxiety and increase self-esteem and resilience (Merrill et.al., 2021; Pianta, 2013).�
K-5 schools provide a consistent environment, benefiting students' academic progress and social relationships (Barnett, et.al., 2018; Elementary School Journal, 2017).

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Option B

Some of The Opportunities and Challenges

Opportunities	Challenges
Reduces time for school bus routes Maximum transportation savings Decreases dependency on the portable structures Future decrease in the amount of building transitions Continues level of Special Education and Dual Language programs Expands the UPK program	- Additional staffing costs - Playground structures needed at five buildings Changes the current building model Students in Grade 4 may have an additional transition in 2026-27

CW, OW, MW, BW, SW K-5

Memorial Grade 6 &

UPK Center

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Option C

Recent enrollment trends in Kindergarten allow us to consider:

Countrywood and Oakwood remain as K-2 buildings
Maplewood and Birchwood remain as 3-5 buildings
Memorial building will house Grade 6
Silas Wood will become a UPK Center
Efforts will be made to reduce the "wear and tear" on portable classrooms at each building by moving homeroom classes
Transportation savings could be used to replace portables as needed over time

Building	Current 24/25 Enrollment	Building Projection Under Option C
MEMORIAL		423
OAKWOOD	644	644
COUNTRYWOOD	567	567
BIRCHWOOD	659	659
MAPLEWOOD	596	596
SILAS WOOD	423	400 UPK students

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Option C

Building Transitions

2026-2027 School Year	Maximum Number of Transitions K-6 Using Option C
Class of 2034 (5th)	2
Class of 2035 (4th)	2
Class of 2036 (3rd)	2
Class of 2037 (2nd)	2
Class of 2038 (1st)	2
Class of 2039 (K)	2
Class of 2040 (UPK)	2
Class of 2041	2

CW, OW K-2

MW, BW 3-5

Memorial Grade 6

Silas Wood UPK Center

* Current model has 2 transitions

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Option C

Transportation Considerations

To maximize transportation savings, the following start and end time schedule is for the Board's consideration beginning in 2026-2027:

Buildings	Current Start and End Times	Buildings	Proposed Change
Walt Whitman HS	7:25 - 2:10	Walt Whitman HS (9-12)	7:25 - 2:10
Stimson MS	8:05 - 2:55	Stimson MS (7-8)	7:55 - 2:45
Silas Wood	8:05 - 2:55	Silas Wood (UPK)	TBD
Birchwood	9:15 - 3:30	Birchwood (3-5)	9:15 - 3:30
Maplewood	9:15 - 3:30	Maplewood (3-5)	9:15 - 3:30
Countrywood	8:20 - 2:35	Countrywood (K-2)	8:35 - 2:50
Oakwood	8:20 - 2:35	Oakwood (K-2)	8:35 - 2:50
Memorial	N/A	Memorial (6)	8:30 - 3:20

CW, OW K-2

MW, BW 3-5

Memorial Grade 6

Silas Wood UPK Center

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Option C

Some of The Opportunities and Challenges

Opportunities	Challenges
Least amount of changes to the current model Separate buses for K-2 and 3-5 students Continues level of Special Education and Dual Language programs Expands the UPK program	Portables may need to be addressed and replaced with permanent structures over time Some buildings have larger student populations than others Least amount of flexibility with building space given our current population

CW, OW K-2

MW, BW 3-5

Memorial Grade 6

Silas Wood UPK Center

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Option D

Countrywood and Oakwood become K-1 Buildings
Maplewood and Birchwood become 2-3 Buildings
Memorial building will become a 4-5 Building
Silas Wood will remain the 6th Grade Center
UPK will be provided at Countrywood, Oakwood, Maplewood and Birchwood

Building	Current 24/25 Enrollment	Building Projections Under Option D
MEMORIAL		829
OAKWOOD	644	397
COUNTRYWOOD	567	361
BIRCHWOOD	659	474
MAPLEWOOD	596	405
SILAS WOOD	423	423

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Option D

Building Transitions

2026-2027 School Year	Maximum Number of Transitions K-6 Using Option D
Class of 2034 (5th)	3
Class of 2035 (4th)	3
Class of 2036 (3rd)	3
Class of 2037 (2nd)	3
Class of 2038 (1st)	3
Class of 2039 (K)	3
Class of 2040 (UPK)	3
Class of 2041	3

CW, OW K-1

MW, BW 2-3

Memorial Grade 4-5

Silas Wood Grade 6

UPK at CW, OW, BW, MW

* Current model has 2 transitions

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Option D

Transportation Considerations

To maximize transportation savings, the following start and end time schedule is for the Board's consideration beginning in 2026-2027:

Buildings	Current Start and End Times	Buildings	Proposed Change
Walt Whitman HS	7:25 - 2:10	Walt Whitman HS (9-12)	7:25 - 2:10
Stimson MS	8:05 - 2:55	Stimson MS (7-8)	7:55 - 2:45
Silas Wood	8:05 - 2:55	Silas Wood (6)	8:10 - 2:50
Birchwood	9:15 - 3:30	Birchwood (2-3)	9:00 - 3:15
Maplewood	9:15 - 3:30	Maplewood (2-3)	8:50 - 3:05
Countrywood	8:20 - 2:35	Countrywood (K-1)	8:35 - 2:50
Oakwood	8:20 - 2:35	Oakwood (K-1)	8:35 - 2:50
Memorial	N/A	Memorial (4-5)	9:15 - 3:30

CW, OW K-1

MW, BW 2-3

Memorial Grade 4-5

Silas Wood Grade 6

UPK at CW, OW, BW, MW

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Option D

Some of The Opportunities and Challenges

Opportunities	Challenges
Eliminates the need for portables at all four buildings Students would not travel back to a school they have already been to Reduces time for school bus routes Continues level of Special Education and Dual Language programs Expands the UPK program	Changes the current building model Transitions every two years Additional playground structures needed at Memorial Multiple buses at each household and same time or later start and end times

CW, OW K-1

MW, BW 2-3

Memorial Grade 4-5

Silas Wood Grade 6

UPK at CW, OW, BW, MW

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Comparison of the Options

All Options:

Provide UPK for all South Huntington Residents with no more waiting lists�
Address the portables with long-term solutions regardless of population increases and decreases�
Maintain or enhance the current levels of diversity and equitable experiences present at all buildings�
Allow for before and aftercare programs K-5 in each building at a reduced expense�
Recapture Memorial to better serve the students of SHUFSD and collect NY State Building Aid�
Achieve the District's transportation savings goals

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Reimagining South Huntington

Increase the inventory of District owned school buses while decreasing our reliance on contracted bus services

Transportation Savings Plan

Savings will be determined by each additional in-District route we can take back from the vendor. Anticipated 24/25 Contracted Cost (EBT) for In-District $5.8m

Additional Proposed Savings for the Board's Consideration:

Increased savings are available by changing start and ending times, which gives us the ability to do more routes ourselves and rely less on contracted services.

EBT Cost per Large Bus / Year	South Huntington Cost per Driver / Year
$125,000 approx	$55,000 approx.
Approx. Savings Per Run	$70,000

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Reimagining South Huntington

The Cost of Not Doing Anything Over the Next 5 Years:

If we…..

Do not change start and end times or initiate the Transportation Savings Plan

Do not offer UPK to all South Huntington residents due to lack of space

We will spend $32,600,000 over 5 years

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Reimagining South Huntington

Approximate cost of each option:

	Option A CW, OW, MW, BW K-4 Memorial Intermediate Grades 5 & 6 Silas Wood UPK Center	Option B CW, OW, MW, BW, SW K-5 Memorial Grade 6 & UPK Center	Option C CW, OW K-2 MW, BW 3-5 Memorial Grade 6 Silas Wood UPK Center	Option D CW, OW K-1 MW, BW 2-3 Memorial Grade 4-5 Silas Wood Grade 6 UPK at CW, OW, BW, MW
Cost over 5 years Including: Bus Purchases, Construction Costs, Staffing, Playgrounds, Furniture, Loss of LISG Revenue	$9,382,282 *	$14,209,663 *	$8,882,282 *	$9,509,494 *
Cost of Brick and Mortar Construction to Replace Portables	$0	$0	Potentially $20,000,000	$0

*At current costs

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Next Steps ….

10/1 Public Presentation and Community Input - 7:30pm Whitman PAC

10/9 Follow Up Discussion with Community Input - 6:30pm Whitman PAC

Small Group / Community Feedback at PTA Meetings:

10/8 at Stimson (SW/SMS PTA) 7pm

10/15 at Maplewood 7pm

10/16 at Birchwood 7pm

10/17 at Oakwood 7pm

10/21 at Countrywood 7pm

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