Hauppauge board honors superintendent, hears student updates and approves routine business

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — The Hauppauge Union Free School District Board of Education on Dec. 9 recognized Superintendent Dr. Don Murphy with a "Long Island School Hero" award and completed routine business including approval of minutes and the consent agenda.

Joseph Salomon, founder and executive director of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying, read the citation the group delivered to the district, saying in part, "As superintendent ... Don Murphy has been a constant source of encouragement, support, and inspiration for students, staff, and families alike." The board's director of guidance, Gary Campanelli, introduced Salomon and helped present the recognition.

Salomon's remarks cited initiatives under Murphy's leadership that the citation said expanded equitable access — including covering the cost of postsecondary exams for students — and credited Murphy with leading a successful bond effort to modernize facilities. Murphy accepted the award and framed it as a recognition of district staff and community partners. "I can't think of a better award to receive ... this is very much an award for all of us," he said.

The board also heard student-focused updates. An unnamed student speaker described a return of "Eagles Challenge Day," and the student council announced a holiday spirit week Dec. 17–23. The high school will host a blood drive Dec. 15 with the New York Blood Center for participants 16 and older with parental permission; the student council recognized senior James Mancuso for organizing that event. Concert schedules and high participation in middle-school activities were also noted.

On routine business, the board moved and seconded adoption of the Oct. 14, 2025 meeting minutes; the motion was approved and the transcript indicates that two trustees (Mister Michaels and Miss Collins) were recorded as absent for that vote. The board similarly approved the consent agenda for items 7–7.4 after a motion and second. The meeting transcript records the approvals but contains garbled vote tallies for the consent agenda; the record also mentions Miss Collins and Mister Buscagrino as absent for parts of the voting sequence (tally not clearly recorded in the transcript).

During new business, board member Mister Scribe thanked veterans and proposed exploring expanded math and science programming and additional dual-enrollment opportunities. Superintendent Murphy said the district already offers several dual-enrollment programs and indicated the board will be informed of new opportunities for the coming school year.

Administration noted personnel recognitions: the transcript records that a staff member named Minta received tenure (role listed in the transcript as "DM") and that Dave (identified as a new hire in the transportation office) was introduced and welcomed.

There were no community questions recorded on agenda- or district-related matters. The board adjourned after confirming there would be no executive session that evening and scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 13, 2026.

The meeting included largely ceremonial items and routine approvals; no new policies, contracts, or contested votes appear on the Dec. 9 public record.