Huntington board reviews district goals and moves toward trimester K–6 report cards

District leaders presented a progress update on four strategic goal areas and detailed a two‑year overhaul of K–6 report cards at the June 8 Huntington Union Free School District board meeting.

Mr. Cusack, presenting academic and assessment work, said the district focused on curricular alignment, project‑based learning and professional development: "Our administrative team across the district has conducted over 400 walkthroughs of classrooms this year," he said, describing how that data informs PD and curriculum planning. The presentation also covered PBIS, restorative practices, expanded college‑credit offerings and mental‑health initiatives.

On assessment, the district described a collaborative, multi‑year effort to refresh K–6 report cards involving roughly 40 participants and reviews of 16 districts’ models. Major proposed changes include moving from four marking periods to a trimester system, updating performance‑level language toward a growth‑mindset framing (for example, replacing "does not meet minimum grade level standards" with "working towards grade level expectations with additional support"), incorporating library and technology/computer science standards, and creating a hybrid sixth‑grade report card that pairs standards‑based indicators with numeric grades to ease transition to middle school.

Presenters emphasized parent communication and teacher PD as next steps: district staff will finalize line‑by‑line edits, format the report cards in eSchool over the summer and run parent outreach so families understand the new layout and timing. "That trimester system gives us more time to get to know the kids before putting something on paper," a presenter said.

The board expressed broad support for the revised report cards and the strategic goals update; the district will return with formatted materials and communications plans before the first reporting period in the fall.