001Welcome back to the February 10th, 2026 meeting of the Hop Union 3 School District Board of Education. We're back from executive session. Kindly rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible and justice for all. >> Thank you. Number four on the agenda is uh our updates. Superintendent update. >> Thank you Mr. Bar. I actually have a number of uh student updates. Um we'll wait till the end uh to to applaud uh these stars with this news here. So first off um since we shared the news of their League 4 championship win, our girls varsity track team has gone on to make Hophog School history by capturing the section 11
002county championship. Uh not only did they win, but it was a total team effort. Our girls finished 32 points ahead of the second place team. Uh just an incredible impressive victory for that team. Second, uh I talked last time about Jacob Wulz, one of our students uh who previously recognized as a Coca-Cola scholar program regional finalist. Jacob has now been named a 2026 Coca-Cola scholar. So, in addition to being recognized by the organization as a force of positive change in the community, he'll receive a $20,000 scholarship toward his college education and will travel to Georgia in April to be welcomed into the KO Scholars network. Um, just a note, I don't have the numbers in front of me here, but if if you recall, it was, you know, over 100,000 uh potential winners, and I
003think he was one of 275 uh with the first group, and now he's one of the the the final scholars. So, just incredible. Um, next over the weekend, our Hop Hog Eagles captured the wrestling team captured the League Five Championship at West Ice High School. I actually got a a text from Mr. Butler over the weekend about this cuz it was just so dominant. Uh the team totaled 317 points, advancing 10 wrestlers to the finals, crowning five champs out of the 10. And we have 16 uh athletes who are going to be at the Suffach County Tournament. 16 wrestlers. Uh that's just an incredible number and really a testament to Coach Msina and the entire team. We just have this incredible pipeline with wrestling as we know uh here in Hop. Uh next at the
004section 11 championships, Smithtown Hop boys swim team [snorts] finished second overall, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay featuring Noah uh Hutzler earned county titles and qualified for the state championships at Ithaca College. uh Hutzler and eighth grader Luke Orololis are both going to the state championship uh as well. So uh just tremendous. So I'm going to pause there. Please join me applauding all of these tremendous students districtwide. [applause] And then just to wrap my remarks uh with with just two updates. One is our buildings are are hosting a variety of activities in recognition of PSI love you week. This year's theme, be the light, reminds us of the importance of fostering a supportive environment and community uh for all. Um on Friday, I believe we're all wearing purple uh districtwide. Um and I imagine Hannah
005may have something to add about this in a moment. Um and then finally, um we hope uh everyone's been enjoying the um the Battle of the Buildings videos that have been going out today. I got word uh you know an event is successful when um the PTA president texts you and says can you can you remind me what the capacity is at the high school gym uh which is a sign of uh the ticket sales. Um so I know there were some SOS calls made today for people who are looking for last minute tickets. So, I think this battle, the buildings event is going to prove to be one for the ages and and this and the rekindling of a of a tremendous um yearly event for all of us. So, get ready. Again, district
006office, even with Miss Cely here in the audience, team black, we're ready to roll and we expect a victory that night and the board and and others will be joining me there. So, thank you. Um, with that, Hannah Lal, >> the High School Musical, Something Rotten, will have an have evening performances on March 6th and 7th. Students and staff have been working incredibly hard. We are looking forward to the final production. >> Last night's turnout at the Hop Smithtown Bulls game for our student population was phenomenal. The Bulls won with a final score of 2 to1 and tomorrow night at 9:20 they will be playing their last game at the ranks before heading to states. Tomorrow during third period the valadictorian and saludiatoran will be announced. Similarly, people with 100 plus GPA will also be
007recognized. >> And lastly, yes, Dr. Murphy, this Friday marks the 16th annual PS I love you day. Our high school is offering different ways to take part in showing support each day of this week. To conclude the week, their founder, Brooke, a close friend of mine, will join us for an assembly during first period. We are looking forward to seeing how Puck turn purple and reminding every student how much they are loved. >> And I will see you there. >> Thank you. 5C on the agenda is uh our adoption of minutes for the community meeting of the board of education of January 27, 2026. I'll make a motion. Mr. Scrio seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? 501 duck craft abstaining. Number six on the agenda, questions or comments from the community concerning anything related
008to the district. I'm sorry, concerning the agenda. Are there any uh items that members would like to have removed from the consent agenda? I'll take a motion to approve the consent agenda as a whole. I'll make a motion. Mr. Scrio seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? 6. >> Do any board members have new business? >> Yes. Use your microphone, please. >> Dr. Murphy. >> Yes, sir. >> Do we have any more updates on these electric school buses? Is that something we have to be concerned about? I see other districts, you know, it's coming close now. >> So, I I um I talked about electric school. been in conversations about this more than I would uh like to admit. Um at so Jim and and Brian were with me uh along with members of cabinet
009on um Saturday at the legislative breakfast and and the superintendent of connectquent got up on the mic to ask the legislators about this. So as it relates to hop hog, let me back up. all superintendent, particularly in Suffach County, we we have advocated. It's one of our legislative priorities to um oppose this mandate, at least by the timeline that they're mandating. It's just completely unrealistic, frankly. It's a it's a bit of a a cousin to our other effort with BES, right? It's in the same uh the same conversation. Um we have two buses. We sold off many buses years ago. We have no plans to convert them. that's a mandate at some point. We have no plans to allow for the infrastructure here. So, we are against it. Um, with everybody else, you know, as
010you probably can guess, even though we don't have a bus fleet like connectquation is our provider and and if they have to go through all of those upgrades, then the cost will will come to all of us. So, um, there's pretty much universal consensus, at least in the superintendent crowd and the legislators, that the assembly members and the senators all, I think, sing mostly the same tune on this. Um, that they understand that the there's just 100 challenges to this, not just financial, the safety that, you know, the concerns that the fire department has talked about. Um, so I'll continue to update the board. Uh it's not a um it's important to us thankfully. It's not like another district that has 60 buses that they're right now doing feasibility studies on costing that district hundreds
011of thousands of dollars. So it's it's a challenge, but we're on top of it. >> And then Dr. Murphy, the last thing as far as you brought up the best, do we have a date and a time and a place so our community knows when the next meeting is? >> Yeah. Um just Yeah. also piggyback on what Dr. Murphy put out last week. Thank you for that uh about protecting our local voice. Um there's a uh hop a community action committee Facebook group if those to join. Oh, >> you hear me? There's a hot pock community action committee. Hop community action committee that formed. It's a Facebook group. Uh the there's a best committee that's going to be meeting at the firehouse uh February 25th. We have a time I believe. Hold up. Yeah, it's
012be 7 pm at the hot pot fire department. Thank you. May >> and I'll just >> but I'd like to encourage just I'd like to encourage everybody that wants to be involved in uh you know joining that Facebook group for more information how you can get involved. So >> yeah and I'll just add that there's some symmetry there with the board's own efforts because Mr. Bar had uh uh offered a new subcommittee of the board at the last meeting about BES and uh I had reached out to Commissioner Monroe after that because you had added to the committee. So there's some nice uh conversations going on across both committees. >> Yep. Very good. Any other uh new business? Does administration have any new business? >> We do not. >> Questions or comments from the community
013concerning anything related to the district whatsoever? Uh, with that I will take a motion for an adjournment. Our next meeting is Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. I'll make a motion. Mr. Scrio seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? 6. There is no more executive session. We concluded our business earlier. Uh, we are adjourned. God bless Hop Hog and God bless the United States of America. Thank you. Good night everybody. Thank you.