South Huntington Schools Get New No. 2

Merryl Rogers was appointed deputy superintendent by the South Huntington Board of Education on Wednesday night.

Rogers, who has worked in the school district for 25 years, had been assistant superintendent for instruction and curriculum. She began her career as a reading  teacher.

"The district is something to be proud of, a hidden jewel," Rogers said. "We have a hardworking staff, an incredible administration and it's always a team effort."

She replaces James Romanelli, who retired in August, and whose personnel duties were taken over by James Polansky, former principal of Walt Whitman High School.

Superintendent Thomas C. Shea told the board at its brief meeting that the district had received about $1 million in federal funding approved in August, and that five teacher's positions were covered by part of those funds.

Shea said it was unclear whether the use of those funds could be spread out over multiple years and noted that the late approval had made it difficult to add classes or make other changes. But he wasn't complaining. "Whatever they want to give us, I'll certainly take," Shea said.

The board also discussed Whitman's homecoming activities, which will incorporate a Friday night football game, Hall of Fame events, a parade, and soccer and field hockey games the weekend of Sept. 24-25, and approved the travel of the Whitman band to the state championship competition in Syracuse.