School Building Renamed For Former South Huntington Board President

Representatives from the state, the county and the South Huntington Union Free School District gathered last Wednesday to dedicate the James Kaden Administrative Office building. Photo by Steve Bartholomew

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

The South Huntington Union Free School District recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the administration building to James Kaden, former longtime president of the school board.

The James Kaden Administrative Office, located at 60 Weston St., Huntington Station, honors the 24 years Kaden served in the district before stepping down as board president in June.

Kaden said Friday that the dedication was a nice event and he feels honored that the district would commemorate his efforts.

“The district has always been good to me, they’ve always respected me and they always listened to me,” he said, adding that the job was about doing things for the district not the district doing things for him.

A sign recognizing the name change was installed in June, but the dedication ceremony was held Sept. 13.

Current school board members Andrew D. Bronson, Laura Carey, President Nicholas Ciappetta; Michele DeGaetano, Sidney Joyner, Linda LaCara and Edward J. Nitkewicz each attended the ceremony.

Ciappetta said during the ceremony that the decision to name the building after Kaden was unanimous and easily reached by the board.

He went on to say that Kaden deserved this honor not only because of his longevity but because he has been the champion of the underdog, his knowledge of the district’s finances and education law is unmatched. He “steadfastly improved instruction in this district, starting with our kindergarten and elementary school reading program, as well as increasing academic offerings for all students, such as our AP Program,” Ciappetta added.

Also in attendance were Susan Bergtraum, president of the New York State School Boards Association; Huntington Councilman Mark Cuthbertson; Lorraine Deller, executive director of Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association; state Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R-Huntington Station); and Brian Sapp, a representative from the Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.