THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025

MEETING AGENDA

of the Metuchen Board of Education

Metuchen High School

400 Grove Avenue

Metuchen, NJ  08840

1. Call to Order

2. Flag Salute

3. Notice of Meeting

I hereby make this statement to indicate compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act known as Chapter 231 of the Public Laws of New Jersey, 1975, which became effective 90 days after enactment, January 19, 1976.

Notice of this meeting was given by providing the location, time and date of this meeting, and posting of the same on the front door of the Board of Education offices, by delivering copies to the Borough Hall and the Metuchen Public Library, The Home News and Tribune, The Star Ledger, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

6. Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)

7. Presentations  

❖    NJGPA Results

❖    ACCESS Results

8. Reports

• President’s Report

• Superintendent's Report

• Committee Reports

• Student Board Member Report

9. Old Business

10. New Business

11. Approval of Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings

12. Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)

13. Recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools

(at this time the Board will take formal action on the following items – see attachments)

Oftentimes it may appear to members of our audience that the Board of Education takes action with very little comment and in many cases a unanimous vote. Before a matter is placed on the agenda at a public meeting, the administration has thoroughly reviewed the matter with the Superintendent of Schools. If the Superintendent is satisfied that the matter is ready to be presented to the Board of Education, it is then referred to the appropriate board committee. The members of the board committee work with administration and the Superintendent to assure that the members fully understand the matter. When the committee is satisfied with the matter, it is presented to the Board of Education for discussion before any final action is taken. Only then, is it placed on the agenda for action at a public meeting.

1. PERSONNEL

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Rescind - Instructional and Non-Instructional Stipend 

Move to rescind and approve the following Instructional Stipends for the 2025-2026 school year as listed (Agenda 07/22/2025, Section 13, A4):

2.    Salary Adjustment - Certificated Staff

Move to rescind and approve the change in base salary for the following certificated staff (Agenda 05/13/2025, Section 13, A6 and Agenda 06/10/2025, Section 13, A1):

3.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Marjorie Rosenberg, Teacher at Edgar Middle School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $67,961/year, Step 3H, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

4.    Substitute Paraprofessional ESY

Move to approve, Jordan Leitner as a substitute teacher and substitute paraprofessional during 2025 ESY at the rate of $115/day. 

5.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Nga Pham, School Nurse at Moss School, effective approximately December 1, 2025 through approximately December 1, 2026.

6.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Mone Benekin, Paraprofessional at Edgar School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $24,241/year, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026, pending criminal history clearance.

7.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Patcharapan Erdem, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $24,241/year, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

8.    Leave Replacement - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Lisa Petrone, Leave Replacement for Samantha Palermo, Student Assistance Counselor for Metuchen School District, effective August 25, 2025 through approximately December 5, 2025, at a per diem rate of $329.73/day.

9.    Appointment - Lunch Aides

    Move to approve the following lunch aides in the Metuchen Public Schools for the 2025-2026 school year, at the rate of $16/hour effective September 2, 2025, pending criminal history clearance:

10.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Rabia Aamir, Paraprofessional at Metuchen High School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $23,516/year, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

11.    Safety Care Training - Non-Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the following non-certificated staff to attend Safety Care Training at their hourly rate, not to exceed 12 hours:

12.    Appointment - Event Staff

    Move to approve the following Event Staff for the 2025-2026 school year, at the rate of $55 per event:

13.    Informal Mentor Teachers

    Move to approve the following staff to serve as an informal mentor for the 2025-2026 school year, to be paid at a rate of $51/hour, not to exceed six hours: 

14.    Formal Mentor Teachers

    Move to approve the following formal mentor teachers to work with the following mentee teachers for the 2025 – 2026 school year: 

15.    Appointment - Learning Consultant/Case Manager

    Move to approve Karla Riera as a Learning Consultant/Case Manager for the Child Study Team staff not to exceed 3 additional days at her per diem rate of $568.58/day (Agenda 6/24/2025, Section 13, A6).

16.    Summer Work- Edgar Middle School Guidance Department

    Move to approve the following school counselor for the 2025 summer work at Edgar Middle School:

17.    ESL Testing

    Move to approve the following staff to conduct WIDA screening for summer 2025, at the rate of $51/hour, not to exceed a total of 8 hours (Title III funded):

18.    2025 New Teacher Orientation Workshop

    Move to approve William Schlavis as a presenter for New Teacher Orientation Workshop, at a rate of $51/hour, not to exceed 2 hours.

19.    Sheltered English Instruction

    Move to approve the following staff members to participate in Sheltered English Instruction training at an hourly rate of $51 an hour, not to exceed 15 hours and completed in 2025-2026 school year:

20.    Substitute Paraprofessional

    Move to approve, Kelsee Young as a substitute paraprofessional during the 2025-2026 school year at the rate of $105/day.

21.    2025 New Teacher Orientation

    Move to approve the following mentors to work with new teachers at the New Teacher Orientation on August 26, 2025, for up to 6 hours at the hourly rate of $51/hour:

22.    Leave Replacement - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Robin Gill, Leave Replacement for Lauren Spanier, Teacher at Edgar School, effective August 29, 2025 through approximately December 9, 2025, at a per diem rate of $329.73/day.

23.    Leave of Absence Custodian 

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Jonathan Alijewicz, Custodian at Metuchen High School, effective July 14, 2025 through approximately August 29, 2025.

24.    Resignation - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept the resignation of Nicolette Jomo, Teacher at Edgar Middle School, effective August 5, 2025.

    ----------------------------end of personnel section--------------------------

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Change Order Epic Management Inc.

    Move to approve the change order as listed below:

2.    Nonpublic Security Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic security aid for the 2025-2026 school year. These expenditures are required for the district to fulfill certain legal obligations under state legislation to administer federal or state funds provided to nonpublic schools within our jurisdiction:

3. Resolution

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE BOROUGH OF METUCHEN IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY AUTHORIZING A JOINT AGREEMENT WITH THE BOROUGH OF METUCHEN PROVIDING FOR USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES AND PAYMENT THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE BOROUGH OF METUCHEN IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY as follows.

            SECTION 1.   The Board President is hereby authorized and directed to execute the attached Joint Agreement providing for the use of school facilities for municipal purposes and the payment therefor in accordance with the conditions and terms set forth therein, and the Business Administrator/Board Secretary is authorized to attest to such signature under the seal of this Board of Education.  The appropriate representatives of this Board of Education are further authorized and directed to implement the Joint Agreement in accordance with its terms. 

            SECTION 2.   This resolution shall take effect immediately.

4.    Nonpublic Technology Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic technology aid for the 2025-2026 school year. These expenditures are required for the district to fulfill certain legal obligations under state legislation to administer federal or state funds provided to nonpublic schools within our jurisdiction:

5.    Professional Development Title II Funds

    Move to approve the following staff from St. Francis Cathedral School to participate in professional development through School Speciality on transforming more than classrooms in partnership with Foss and Delta Education during the 2025-2026 school year, using ESEA Title IIA Non-Public funds not to exceed $3,250:

6.  Payment of Bills

a)  Board Secretary’s Certification

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6:20-2A.10(d), the Board Secretary has certified that as of August 12, 2025 no budgetary line item accounts have obligations and payments which exceed the amount appropriated by the Board of Education.

________________________________________                  _______________

       Michael A. Harvier, Board Secretary                         Date

b)  Approve the Following Items Submitted by the Board Secretary

Payment of bills and claims, as shown on the attached list(s) that have been certified by the Board of Education and filed in the Business Office.

7.     Professional Development

    Move to approve the following professional development activities as shown on the following chart:

----------------------------end of finance section--------------------------

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Second Reading of Policy

Move to approve the second reading of the following policy:

❖    P 5410     PROMOTION AND RETENTION 

2.    Reading of Regulation

    Move to approve the reading of the following regulation:

    ❖    R 5410     PROMOTION AND RETENTION 

----------------------------end of policy section--------------------------

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    James Stronge Observation

    Move to approve the James Stronge observation and evaluation system for the 2025-2026 school year. 

2.    Book Disposal

    Move to approve the disposal of the following textbooks and from the Metuchen High School:

3.    Equipment Disposal

    Move to approve the disposal of the following equipment at Metuchen High School:

----------------------------end of curriculum section--------------------------

14. Meeting Open to Public (for any topic)

15. Announcements

16. Motion to Go Into Executive Session (when applicable)

Resolution to Close Meeting

BE IT RESOLVED, pursuant to the Sunshine Act, N.J.S. 10:4-12 and 13, that the Board of Education will now meet in executive session to discuss _____________________________________ and that matters discussed will be disclosed to the public as soon as the reason for confidentiality no longer exist.

17. Adjournment