Huntington STEM to Start in Fall

Updated: The Huntington school board Tuesday night endorsed a September start date for a STEM program operating at Jack Abrams school.

First proposed last October, the program entails a curriculum focusing on science, technology, engineering and math. It will enroll  students chosen by lottery and in grades 3-5.

An application for an $11 million federal grant may not be answered until the end of September, Superintendent James Polansky said. But because of transportation savings and a decision to forego certain expenses, such as a lab redesign and a summer camp, the school will open as planned in the fall. Two key elements--staffing and curriculum work--are in place, noted Polansky, a former science teacher.

And, he said, there was no guarantee that the money could be shifted to next year if it was awarded in 2013.

The Jack Abrams building where the magnet school will operate already houses district administrators and some of them could end up running the school instead of the district hiring a new principal.

Classrooms have been empty for nearly three years, when crime nearby led the board to vote to pull students out of the building.

The decision to go ahead before federal funding is guaranteed means the district will spend about $240,000, relying on some savings in transportation costs, other grants and corporate donations.

"The reward is much greater than the risk," Polansky said.

The trustees unanimously and enthusiastically agreed, though didn't take a formal vote because they had already approved the plan in March.

Trustee Xavier Palacios said, "This is our moment. We've got the right captain in place. We have to take a leap of faith. The program is a stellar program and I'm all for it."

Letters confirming students' acceptance into the program will be "ready to go out at 8 a.m." Wednesday, Polansky said. Students were chosen by lottery after appyling for the program.