001Thank you. Welcome back to the uh business meeting of the Hop Hog School District Board of Education. This is our August 19th, 2025 meeting. We're back to public uh from executive session. uh kindly rise and I will ask our uh two student board members to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Please to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Four on the agenda 4 A is the superintendent update. Dr. Murphy. >> Thank you, Mr. Bar. Uh just a couple updates to talk about. First, I just want to thank the board. Uh we had a great retreat uh as we do each year uh before this board meeting uh to kind of
002signify the start of the school year, our our launch meeting. At that retreat, we had some food, we had some fun. Um Dr. Cer and Dr. McCarthy won the first annual bucket ball challenge. >> We have launched a protest. >> We have lodged a protest. Tim's to was over the line at least three times. Um, we also discussed the strategic plan and did some work on uh finishing up that uh impressive document. We thanked the community who helped uh provide feedback last school year and of course the strategic plan committee. We hope to have uh the final product shared soon. Um it is busy right now throughout the district. Uh we continue to see the work that's being done on our campus thanks to the bond that was passed in 2023. A reminder, there are
003banners throughout the district that provide a QR code uh bringing visitors to a website um with all the details you could want about where we are at in that process. What's coming next is uh some renderings uh that uh community members can see which shows um you know what the vision is of the bond uh kind of right when you hit the splash page. So look for that. Um coming up this week we have new teacher orientation. Uh we're excited to welcome a new cohort of teachers. Uh I believe it's 18 teachers will join us tomorrow. Uh and also on Thursday, uh thanks to Mr. Tasmin, um Dr. McCarthy, really the whole team, uh who put together an impressive two days for our new teachers to get acclimated uh to Hop Hog and to to
004learn what we're all about. Uh such an important part of our process, uh welcoming them to the team. Um next Tuesday, we have our admin council. At that meeting, I will be walking the admin team through our approach for this school year with excitement and with energy. Um, it's uh it's kind of a um passing the baton from the meeting with the board, our launch meeting before the board meeting to the admin team and then after that will be conference day. Um, and conference day is um on Wednesday of next week. Uh, Dr. Dr. McCarthy helps to put together that schedule which culminates with all of us in the auditorium for some laughs and some focus on the school year. Again, all with an eye on our students uh getting getting energized to kind of
005uh send that message to our kids when they walk in the doors. And that will be on Tuesday uh after Labor Day, September 2nd. So, um, never I'm always with the same butterflies I've had forever, uh, leading up to the start of the school year, just with excitement. And I could say that's the same for the whole team. So, uh, thank you to the board, uh, for helping us to launch another school year and, uh, the next time we meet will be after the start of the year. So, I look forward to sharing, uh, what that looks like, uh, with the community. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Murphy. >> Oh, yep. And now I will uh speak of the time passing pass it over to Hannah and Olakin for uh an update from our
006board members, our student board members. >> Thank you. >> On Wednesday the 27th, school schedules will be released in lie of the phone policy. Students will have to make note of the location of their lockers as phones are banned during the school day. In addition, Thursday the 28th, the freshman open house that is run by Ignition will start at 11:30. All freshman and new students should arrive with questions. >> Adding on to what Alakin said, on that same Thursday, the seniors have their paint the parking spot fundraiser. I believe this is the third annual one and they're looking forward to that. Um they're also preparing for the senior breakfast which occurs on the first day of school. And aside from that, the students are enjoying their end of summer and getting ready for this bittersweet
007time for next year. >> Thank you both. And I will jump back in just for a minute. Uh I'm already seeing the value of having you both here. You just uh reminded me of something I had on here which I forgot to mention. Um we were working on a uh communication uh for parents and students about the cell phone uh approach that's coming this year. Um I think uh the message will be wellreceived. It will be shared as soon as the end of this week and we'll outline some of the details that people uh or students or parents have questions about. So you can expect that in the near future. You could also expect to see my annual welcome letter um which is always sent a few days before the start of the school year.
008So please look for those to parents square communications. Thank you. Number 5 C on the agenda is the adoption of minutes from the business meeting of the board of education of July 22nd, 2025. Do I have a motion, Mr. Screeno? Do I have a second? Dr. Trap. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? Extensions 0 1 2 Mr. Barstaining, Mr. Buscrino and Mr. Kylie uh absent. Number six on the agenda are questions and comments on tonight's agenda only. Just a note, we are adding to the agenda before we get to questions and comments. We are adding to the agenda as 11A uh the board's consideration of a resolution concerning the key capture energy uh proposed construction and operation of a 79 megawatt battery energy storage system facility at 220 Rabro Drive in Hopog.
009Uh our board policy prohibits us from voting on items not uh on the agenda. However, uh we have uh authority and discretion to add items that we consider um emergency uh action items and the board has discussed in um our meeting uh executive session that uh the board does view this as an emergency um consideration emergency issue that needs to be considered. So that will be called as 11A and the clerk will put up a new revised agenda um including 11A the resolution. Uh number six questions and comments on tonight's agenda only including 11A. Are there any items that members would like to have removed? >> Yes, I didn't see that. Yes. >> Yeah. Um I actually had a question on 7.2 C the bridge loan. Do you mind coming up to the microphone just
010so people at home can hear you? >> Hi. Uh my name is Andrew. Thanks for having me guys. Um wondering about the co-curriculum appointments. It seems like there's a lot of interesting activities offered to the school to the students. Could you say a word about what those co-curriculums are and then also I noticed Breton Woods isn't on the list. If you could say a word about that too, please. Thank you. >> Sure. >> So Brett and Woods was already approved um in a previous board meeting. Those are clubs and activities that are um offered to the students of the school directed by led by our teachers. >> Right. >> But Joe or Joe or anyone, can you just talk about basically uh the co-curricular uh opportunities that we offer? I mean, we've been very aggressive
011and liberal in >> in uh allowing clubs and and >> all kinds of clubs, activities that students are interested in. Many of them come from student interest, staff interest. Uh they could be hobbies that staff have and skills that staff have that they can you know give to the students. You can just see from the group it's like they have Harry Potter club to birthday club to handball club to whiffle ball club any type of activity that will engage students to be involved in an activity before or after school. >> And if I may just add the principles uh look to to talk to to see if there can be some consistency in the three buildings although it depends on staff. So sometimes you have a a teacher who may have a special skill in
012a certain art or or or musical uh focus um that isn't exactly the same at the other building, but we try to have that that blend of activities and experiences. The board has always supported. So um the the hours the total number of hours may change slightly from year to year, but not because of denial from the board. It's it's what's you know it's really uh if if a staff member comes forward and says I have something that could benefit even a few students we try to bring that forward and come to the board and and they've been supportive >> and we've always aggressively budgeted for these items clubs and what have you want to foster those opportunities for kids >> and you might you didn't grab on a personal action report um that's you
013have it with all the list of the clubs and you can see right and also the previous board meeting you can see Breton Woods Breton Woods was already approved so you can see what all their clubs and activities for as well. >> Thank you. >> And after you review all that stuff, if you have any questions, uh you can email any of us uh and uh we'll get back to you. >> And ideally, let's just make a note of this. It's I think it the question reminds me that it's best to put them all on one meeting so that we can see the the balance amongst all the buildings at the same time. So, thank you for your question. >> Any other questions concerning uh tonight's agenda only? Do any board members have items that
014they'd like to have removed from the consent agenda? >> Yes, Miss Michaels. >> 7.4A. >> 7.4 A. Uh, CSA A1. >> Y. >> Any others? So I will take a motion to approve the consent agenda less 74 7.4A1. Thank you. I will second. Any discussion? All those in favor? 5 Z calling 7.4A1 removed by uh M. Michael. I will uh make the motion. Mr. Scrio seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? Abstensions. Thank you. That vote is 412. Mr. Michael's uh abstaining. Thank you, Mr. Number eight on the agenda are um policies. Policy 6700, our district purchasing policy is on for its second reading. Uh >> Mr. Tasman, can you give us a quick update on um what this is and whether there was any changes since first reading? This is our um an
015annual policy that gets reviewed every year by the board. We updated this policy and reformatted it so that it was cleaner to understand where it was um the language is only as connected to federal grants, not all of our awards of purchases. So, we worked with the attorneys to clean up to so that it aligns with law and also reads in a more easygoing way for us all to understand. And I will uh take a um I'll make a motion rather to adopt 6700. Do I have a second? Thank you, Miss Collins. Any discussion? All those in favor? 5-0. Number nine is the uh public hearing for our code of conduct. I will open the public hearing and ask whether anyone on the board or in the community has any questions concerning the uh code
016of conduct for the 2526 school year. Seeing none, I will take a motion to uh close the public hearing. I'll make a motion, Mr. Streto second any discussion. Seeing none, all those in favor? Public hearing is closed. I will uh take a motion on the resolution which is to um approve the code of conduct uh upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. I'll make the motion. Mr. Scrio seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? 5. Uh number 10 on the agenda is the public hearing for the district-wide safety plan 25 uh 202526. I will open the public hearing and ask whether anyone on the board or in the community has any questions concerning the district-wide safety plan for 2025 and 2026. Seeing none, I will uh make a motion to close the public hearing.
017Mr. Screen seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? 5. I will uh take a motion or make a motion to adopt the resolution that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The district-wide safety plan for the 2526 school year is uh hereby approved. I'll make the motion Mr. Scrio seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? 5. Committee reports. Uh since we're short-handed today, we will punt those to our next meeting. 11A is the resolution uh that I mentioned earlier concerning the proposed um battery energy storage system facility. Uh I will ask um Mr. Michaels to kindly read the resolution that the board will be considering. Thank you. Um the hop union free school district resolution regarding location of propos proposed best facility. uh whereas key capture energy uh KCE has proposed the construction operation
018of a 79 megawatt battery energy storage system known as BE uh Bess facility at 220 Rabro Drive Hop Hog and whereas the proposed location is located within the town of Isa and the Hop Hog Union Free School District and whereas the proposed location is in close proximity to the Breton Woods Elementary School and whereas the board of educ Education has an an essential responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its students and staff. And whereas large-scale best facilities have been associated with risks, including but not limited to fire hazards and other emergency conditions that could endanger the lives and properties of those in surrounding neighborhoods. And whereas the sitting or sighting of such a facility near an elementary school presents unacceptable risks and raises concerns regarding the ability to ensure safe evacuation, emergency
019response, and the overall health, safety, and welfare of students and staff members. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of education hereby expresses its opposition to the sighting of the KCE best facility at its proposed location near the Bretonwoods Elementary School. And be it further resolved that the board directs the district clerk to transmit copies of this resolution to the ISUP town board and the town of Isup planning board. And be it further resolved that the board of education directs its attorneys to attend all applicable meetings and hearings in the town of ISP to represent the board of education. >> Thank you. And our um vote is to adopt uh that resolution. I will make the uh motion. Mr. Scrio seconds. Any discussion on the resolution? All those in favor? 500. That resolution is
020adopted. Thank you, Mr. Michaels. Number 12 on the agenda are discussion matters drawing on today. New business. Do any board members have new business? Mr. Screo, >> am I correct? >> Yes, tomorrow. And then we have a second day of activities at the high school. So, yes, we'll we may see you there. >> I will be there. >> Awesome. >> Yay. Any other >> any other uh >> I said Austin was better than >> any other new business from board members uh new business from administration? >> No >> questions and comments from the community concerning anything related to the district whatsoever. With that I will take a motion for an adjournment. Our next meeting will be um Tuesday September 16th 2025. Uh there will be no further executive session. The board has completed its business
021earlier. I will make the motion for the adjournment. Mr. Scrio seconds. Any discussion? All those in favor? 5. We are adjourned. God bless America and God bless Hop Hog. Thank you. Good night.