Huntington High on Gov. Cuomo's ‘High-Risk’ Schools List

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, center, announces the 10 “high-risk” schools in Suffolk County, which included Huntington High School, on Sept. 13 in Central Islip. Photo Courtesy of Office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Huntington School District officials were “shocked” last week to learn that the high school was chosen by Gov. Andrew Cuomo as one of 10 “high-risk” schools across Suffolk County, which will soon have a state trooper walking its halls in an effort to prevent gang violence and recruitment.

Cuomo made the announcement during a press conference on Sept. 13 in Central Islip.

He said troopers in the newly-created Gang Violence Prevention Unit will be deployed to 10 schools across six districts, also including nearby Brentwood and Wyandanch, to stop violence before it starts and lead an “Educate the Educators” program to teach teachers and faculty the early signs of gang involvement.

“Schools are where a lot of these gangs actually operate,” Cuomo said. “This is a problem that the school system does not deal with; you’re a school teacher, you’re not equipped to deal with gang violence.”

Huntington officials were informed of the press event two hours prior, and did not learn that the high school made the list until after the announcement, according to a letter written by Superintendent James Polansky last Thursday.

“We were shocked to learn in this manner that Huntington High School was on the list of 10,” Polansky stated. “At no point did any state official or otherwise reach out and ask what we need or don’t need.”

Abbey Fashouer, a spokeswoman for Cuomo, said in an email Tuesday morning that the 10 schools were chosen based on intelligence and reports from state and local sources, including the Long Island Gangs Task Force, and that state officials will be working with Suffolk police and superintendents to implement the program in the coming days.

“All school districts were notified and invited to the event, and we are surprised that some officials would not welcome additional resources to stop the scourge of MS-13,” Fashouer said.

State Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R-Huntington Station) said that the state executive’s office did not consult Huntington’s local representatives prior to the announcement. He said state aid is always welcome, but must be targeted for areas in need and coordinated through local representatives.

Lupinacci also said he has since spoken to Polansky, who continued to express displeasure with the way the situation was handled.

In his letter, Polansky stated that Cuomo’s plan lacked understanding and collaboration, adding the announcement “served primarily to mischaracterize and, frankly, offend all members of the school community.”

When asked for further comment, Polansky deferred to his letter, which has been published on the district’s website, www.HUFSD.edu.