THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 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

❖ Introduction of New Teachers

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

7. Presentations 

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. Appointment - Paraprofessional

Move to approve the appointment of Joyee Mondal, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $24,241/year, prorated, effective approximately September 15, 2025 through June 30, 2026, pending criminal history clearance.

2.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to accept the resignation of Sonia Aswani, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective August 26, 2025.

3.    Rescind - Paraprofessional Appointment

    Move to rescind the appointment of Mone Benekin, Paraprofessional at Edgar School, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026 (Agenda 8/12/25, Section 13 A6).

4.    Leave of Absence - Administrator

    Move to approve the intermittent leave of absence of Brian Stike, Assistant Principal at Metuchen High School, effective October 6, 2025 through October 24, 2025, and January 2, 2026 through February 6, 2026.

5.    Paraprofessional Mentors

    Move to approve the following staff to serve as Paraprofessional Mentors, for the stipend in the amount of $250 each for the 2025-2026 school year:

6.    Appointment - Substitutes

Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year as listed on the chart below, effective September 2, 2025, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance: 

7.    Rescind - Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities

    Move to rescind the following co-curricular stipend for the co-curricular activity for the 2025-2026 school year as listed (Agenda 8/26/25, Section 13, A2):

8.    Resignation - Bus Aide

    Move to accept the resignation of Michael Molfetto, Bus Aide for Metuchen Schools District, effective September 5, 2025.

9.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Farhana Omarzai, Paraprofessional at Edgar School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $26,465/year, effective September 10, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

10.    Leave of Absence Extension - Custodian

    Move to extend the leave of absence of Jonathan Alijewicz, Custodian at Metuchen High School, through approximately September 19, 2025 (Agenda 8/12/25, Section 13 A23).

11.    Appointment - Lunch Aide

    Move to approve the appointment of Constance Price, Lunch Aide for Metuchen Public Schools for the 2025-2026 school year, at the rate of $16/hour, effective September 10, 2025 pending criminal history clearance.

12.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Jessica Lanigan, Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective approximately December 1, 2025 through approximately April 3, 2026.

13.    Leave of Absence - School Secretary

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Kate Eosso, Secretary for Campbell School and Special Services Department, effective September 5, 2025 through approximately October 8, 2025.

14.    Appointment - Substitute Secretaries

    Move to approve the following additional substitute secretaries for the 2025-2026 school year, effective September 10, 2025.  (Agenda 6/10/25, Section 13 A19, Agenda 8/26/25, Section 13 A5):

15.    Appointment- Cash Box

    Move to approve Maureen Azzara and Donna Corrigan for the 2025-2026 school year to handle the Cash Box at athletic events, at the following rates:

----------------------------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.    ESCNJ Dual Certification Pathway Grant

    Move to participate in the ESCNJ Dual Certification Pathway Grant for tuition reimbursement to accept funds and reimburse staff accordingly, for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.

3.    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 September 09, 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.

4.    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:

5.    FY2026 Teach STEM Classes in Nonpublic Schools Grant

    Move to accept the FY2026 Teach STEM in Nonpublic Schools Grant in the amount of $18,434.03 for the partnership between the nonpublic school, Yeshiva Shaarei Tzion and the public school, Metuchen Board of Education for the 2025-2026 school year.

6.    AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF GRANT AGREEMENTS     

    Move to approve the authorization, execution and delivery of the following grant agreements:

Metuchen Boro School District / Middlesex County 

Campbell E.S. 

Project Description: HVAC System Upgrades

DOE Project #: 3120-060-23-R502

SDA Project #: 3120-060-23-G5MK 

Grant #: G5-6726 

Total Project Costs: $137,800

Grant Amount: $55,120

7.    DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR FOR SUPERVISION OF THE SCHOOL FACILITIES PROJECTS 

    Move to approve the delegation of authority to school business administrator for supervision of the following school facilities projects:

Metuchen Boro School District / Middlesex County

Campbell E.S.

Project Description: HVAC System Upgrades 

DOE Project #: 3120-060-23-R502 

SDA Project #: 3120-060-23-G5MK

Grant #: G5-6726

Total Project Costs: $137,800

Grant Amount: $55,120

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Appointment - Student Board of Education Member Representative

    Move to approve Rose Michaels-LaMorte as the Metuchen High School Student Board of Education Representative for the 2025-2026 school year.

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Work Based Learning

    Move to approve the the following work based learning and community experiences for students in the Metuchen Internship Learning Experience classes at MHS for the 2025-2026 school year: Metuchen Boro Hall, Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, Sam’s Club, ShopRite of Edison, ShopRite of Woodbridge, What’s the Scoop, DSW and YMCA

2.     Field Trips

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

3.    Book Disposal Campbell School

    Move to approve the disposal of the following curriculum resources from Campbell Elementary 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