THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2026

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

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Review of Baseline Data, Maintenance and Custodial, Transportation - Mr. Harvier

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. Retirement - Certificated Staff

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Vivian Petrakakos, Teacher at Edgar Middle School, effective June 30, 2026.

2.    Leave of Absence - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Tina Huber, Paraprofessional at Moss School, effective approximately February 13, 2026 through approximately March 3, 2026.

3.    Leave of Absence - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Joyee Mondal, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective February 23, 2026 through approximately March 13, 2026.

4.    Instructional Stipends 

     Move to approve the following Edgar Middle School instructional stipends for the   

     2025-2026 school year, effective February 11, 2026 through approximately March 27,  

     2026:

5.    Retirement - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Linda Donohue, Teacher at Edgar Middle School, effective June 30, 2026.

6.  Revision – Administrative Leave 

Be it resolved to end the administrative leave with pay for Employee #102225, effective February 11, 2026 (Agenda 1/27/26, Section 20, A6).

7.     Retirement - Certificated Staff

      Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Pam Stead, Teacher at Edgar Middle  

      School, effective June 5, 2026. 

8.     Extension – Leave Replacement

Move to approve the extended appointment of Bruce Peragallo, Leave Replacement for Michelle Huff, Teacher at Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School, three days    per week, at a salary of $329.73/day, effective approximately February 17, 2026    through approximately June 22, 2026 (Agenda 1/27/26, Section 20, A4). 

9.     Appointment Revision – Certificated Staff 

Move to approve the revision of the appointment of Jennifer Korpon, 0.6 Teacher at    Moss School, to full time Teacher at Moss School, Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $65,625/year, Step 3E, prorated, effective February 19, 2026 through June 30, 2026 (Agenda 5/13/26, Section 13, A6).

10.    Resignation – Leave Replacement

Move to approve the adjusted end date of Madeline DeBaro, Leave Replacement for     Lauren Campbell, Edgar Middle School, through approximately March 27, 2026, or earlier if a replacement is hired (Agenda 11/18/25, Section 13, A2).

11.      Appointment of Substitutes 

Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year as   listed on the chart below, effective February 11, 2026, pending completion of  substitute training and criminal history clearance:  

12.      Retirement – Certificated Staff

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Virginia Wetzel, Teacher at Edgar Middle    School, effective June 30, 2026.  

13.    Appointment – Per Diem ICR Substitute Teacher 

Move to approve the appointment of Lisa Lombardi, 0.6 Substitute Teacher, to provide  ICR instruction at Metuchen High School, at the rate of $329.73/day, prorated for 0.6 instruction, effective February 11, 2026 through approximately March 27,  2026.

14.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Emily Presuto, Teacher at Edgar Middle School, effective January 20, 2026 through approximately March 6, 2026.

15.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Christine Piovoso, Leave Replacement for Samantha Murphy, Teacher at Campbell School, at a salary of $329.73/day, effective approximately April 20, 2026 to approximately June 22, 2026.

16.    Presenters Integrated Preschool Orientation

    Move to approve  the following teachers as presenters at the Integrated Preschool Orientation on February 12, 2026 at the rate of $51/hour Jessica Kovacs and Michele Herold not to exceed 2 hours.

----------------------------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.    Change Order Epic Management Inc.

    Move to approve the change order as listed below:

3.    Change Order M&M Construction

    Move to approve the change orders as listed below:

4.  Advancing Opportunity Services

Move to approve Advancing Opportunities to provide the following services at the listed                                      rates:   

5.   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 February 10, 2026 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.

----------------------------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.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case.

• EMS010526001

3.    District Calendar

    Move to approve the revised district calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. 

4.   2026-2027 School Times

      Move to approve, per policy 8220, the following start and end times for the 2026-2027  

      school year:

• Moss = 9:05a.m. to 3:20p.m.

• Campbell = 8:30a.m. to 2:45p.m.

• Edgar = 7:48a.m. to 2:26p.m.

• MHS = 8:28a.m. to 2:54p.m.

 ----------------------------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: 

2. Student Observers

    Move to approve the placement of the following student observers from Rutgers    

    University Music Education in the Metuchen Public School District during the    

    2025-2026 school year. 

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