THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 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, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

❖    MHS Fall Play Preview

The MHS Footlighters will present Arthur Miller's The Crucible on Friday, November 14th & Saturday, November 15th. The Crucible is about a small town that spirals out of control when people start accusing each other of witchcraft. As fear takes over, lies and revenge ruin lives, especially that of John Proctor, who tries to do the right thing even if it costs him everything. Tonight, seniors Ryan Stein, who plays John Proctor, and Aidan Bernstein-Lundy, who plays Reverend Parris, will talk a little bit about the play and the Footlighters' upcoming performances. 

❖    Sustainable New Jersey District Green Team Collaboration Award

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

7. Presentations 

❖    NJSLA Presentation

❖    HIB Grading Self-Assessment 2024-2025 SY

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 Meeting

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.    Paraprofessional as Substitute

    Move to approve the following paraprofessional to serve as a substitute, as needed and assigned, for an additional stipend of $50/day:

2.    Leave of Absence - Extension

    Move to extend the leave of absence of Kate Eosso, Secretary for Campbell School and Special Services Department, through approximately November 30, 2025 (Agenda 9/30/25, Section 13 A15).

3.    Appointment of Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year as listed on the chart below, effective October 22, 2025, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance: 

4.    Salary Adjustment – Certificated Staff

    Move to approve a change in base salary for Christina Dybas, Teacher at Metuchen High School, from Step 3J, $76,965/year, to Step 4J, $78,798/year, as a result of her 30 additional credits (MA+30), effective November 1, 2025.

5.    Leave of Absence - Extension

    Move to extend the leave of absence of Laurie Toth, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, through approximately November 30, 2025 (Agenda 10/14/25, Section 13 A5).

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Professional Development

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

2.  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 October 28, 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.

3.    Technology Equipment Purchase

    Move to approve the purchase of technology equipment as listed on the provided attachment from Questivity Incorporated in the amount of $63,619.50.

4.    Treasurer of School Monies and Board Secretary’s Reports

Move to approve the Treasurer of School Monies’ Report, and Board Secretary’s Report as of July 31, 2025.

5.    Treasurer of School Monies and Board Secretary’s Reports

Move to approve the Treasurer of School Monies’ Report, and Board Secretary’s Report as of August 31, 2025.

6.     Budget Transfers

Move to approved budget transfers effective August 31, 2025.

7.    Resolution

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE BOROUGH OF METUCHEN IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY, AUTHORIZING THE USE OF COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING FOR THE SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR A SOLAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT, ALL IN CONNECTION WITH ITS ENERGY SAVINGS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Borough of Metuchen in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey (the “Board” when referring to the governing body, and the “School District” when referring to the legal entity and territorial area governed by the Board), has previously selected Spiezle Architectural Group (“Spiezle”), which is in contractual privity with DCO Energy (“DCO”), to serve as its Energy Services Company (generally referred to herein as the “ESCO”), to assist with the implementation of its Energy Savings Improvement Program (“ESIP”), which includes provision for, among others, a solar power purchase agreement among its proposed energy conservation measures; and

WHEREAS, the Board now desires to authorize the use of competitive contracting to procure a solar provider and vendor to undertake the development of School District solar, and enter into a solar power purchase agreement with the School District; and   

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-4.1 et seq., and as prescribed by Local Finance Notice 2009-10 dated June 12, 2009, the Board may use competitive contracting in lieu of public bidding for procurement of a solar power purchase agreement; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-4.3(a), the Board is required to pass a resolution authorizing the use of competitive contracting, as is desired here; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-4.3(b), 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6, respectively, the competitive contracting process, including the preparation of a request for proposals for a solar power purchase agreement (the “RFP”), solicitation of proposals, and award of a contract based upon the methodology set forth in the aforesaid RFP, must be administered by the Board’s purchasing agent, legal counsel and/or business administrator with the assistance of its ESCO.

NOW, 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 aforementioned recitals of this resolution are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth at length.  For the reasons all expressed above, this Board of Education hereby determines to use competitive contracting pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-4.1 et seq., and as prescribed by Local Finance Notice 2009-10 dated June 12, 2009, for the selection of a qualified solar power purchase agreement provider (a “PPA Provider”), to assist with a proposed solar project to be undertaken in accordance with the School District’s ESIP, and hereby authorizes its ESCO, with the assistance of counsel, to prepare a RFP for the solicitation of the PPA Provider, to publish such solicitation as required by law and to take other steps necessary to enable the School District to enter into a solar power purchase agreement with the provider selected in accordance with the RFP.  Other appropriate representatives of the School District are authorized and directed to assist in the preparation, publication and review of the RFP and the proposals as permitted and required by applicable law. 

Section 2.        This resolution shall take effect immediately.

8.    Change Order M&M Construction

    Move to approve the change orders as listed below:

9.    Appointment- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Service

    Move to approve the appointment of the following for the 2025-2026 school year (Agenda 06/24 / 2025, Section 13, B27):

•        Brett DiNovi & Associates -as a provider of independent BCBA services at a rate of $135.00/hour and Clinical Associates services at a rate of $60.50/hour, not to exceed $380,000.

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Suspensions

    The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary attached. 

2.    School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drill Reports

Move to accept the following reports on the completion of the School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drills:

• 10/21/2025 8:30 AM, Metuchen High School, student parking lot. Van 16. Supervised by Kathy Glutz 

• 10/21/2025 8:00 AM – 2:15 PM, Edgar School, back bus circle. Full School Evacuation Practice during Physical Education & Health Classes, Busses 25 & 23 were used for all. Supervised by Suzy Azevedo & Marissa Plancher. Teachers Leading the drill were John Butler, Rick Carter, Amy Fitzharris, and Drew Bandola

• 10/21/2025 8:45 AM, Moss School (Kindergarten), front school loop on Simpson Pl. Van 12 & Van 14 Supervised by Jen Asprocolas

• 10/21/2025 9:10 AM, Moss School (Preschool), front school loop on Simpson Pl. Van 20 and Van 24. Supervised by Marissa Plancher and Jen Asprocolas

• 10/22/2025 9:30 – 10:20 AM, Campbell Elementary School, Location for the drill was Campbell driveway between Talmadge & Durham. Full school evacuation practice at assigned times in Busses 23 & 25. Supervised by Marissa Plancher, Brooke Kirschner, and Joe Fitzgibbon

3.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported cases: 

• EMS090825001

• EMS091025001

• EMS091125001

• CES091625001

• METHS091725001

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.     Field Trips

Move to approve the following field trips for students in the Metuchen School District as shown: 

----------------------------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