THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 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 Chamber Orchestra

The MHS Chamber Orchestra is the premier orchestral ensemble in the Metuchen School District. The MHS Chamber Orchestra consistently received Gold Ratings at the CJMEA Orchestra Festival, and was selected to perform at both the NJMEA Convention in 2024, and the prestigious ASTA National Orchestra Festival in 2025. 

Tonight they will be performing a portion of Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" String Quartet. Come see Chamber Orchestra perform the work in its entirety at the Winter Orchestra Concert on Wednesday December 10th at 7:00pm. 

❖    Students with Perfect NJSLA Scores Spring 2025

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

7. Presentations 

❖    District Goals Update - Dr. Caputo

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.    Leave of Absence - Extension

Move to extend the leave of absence of Lauren Campbell, School Counselor at Edgar Middle School, through approximately June 30, 2026 (Agenda 06/10/25, Section 13, A3).
 

2.    Leave Replacement - Extension

    Move to extend the appointment of Madeline DeBaro, Leave Replacement for Lauren Campbell, School Counselor at Edgar Middle School, through approximately June 18, 2026, at a per diem rate of $329.73/day (Agenda 07/22,25, Section 13, A15). 

3.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Ann Leghorn-Orapallo, Reading Specialist at Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School, effective approximately March 16, 2026 through approximately June 15, 2026.

4.    Rescind -1:1 Nurse

    Move to rescind the appointment of Laura Hermans, 1:1 Nurse at Moss School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a rate of $50.38/hour, effective September 30, 2025. 

5.    Appointment – Non-certified 1:1 Nurse

    Move to approve the appointment of Laura Hermans, 1:1 Nurse at Moss School for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $68,391/year, prorated, effective October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

6.    New Teacher Academy Presenters

    Move to approve Katie Upshaw and Beth McLaughlin as presenters on Navigating Challenging Behaviors for the New Teacher Academy workshop series for the 2025-2026 school year, at a rate of $51/hour, not to exceed 4 hours each.

7.    New Teacher Academy Presenter

    Move to approve Panos Tzetzos as a presenter on Adult Self Care for the New Teacher Academy workshop series for the 2025-2026 school year, at a rate of $51/hour, not to exceed 4 hours.

8.     Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to accept the resignation of Abeera Faizan, Paraprofessional at Campbell Elementary School, effective December 4, 2025.

9.    Appointment of Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year as listed on the chart below, effective November 10, 2025, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance: 

10.    Resolution - Administrative Leave

    Be it resolved, employee #102412 was placed on administrative leave with pay on November 12, 2025.

11.    Instructional Stipend

    Move to approve the following Edgar Middle School instructional stipends for the 2025-2026 school year, retroactive to September 1, 2025:

12.    ESEA Title I Funded Salary

    Move to approve Amy Dee’s 2025-2026 school year salary of $63,500 to be partially ESEA grant funded, up to $12,700.

13.    ESEA Title I Funded Salary

    Move to approve Stephanie Tortolani’s 2025-2026 salary of $61,250 to be partially ESEA grant funded, up to $24,500.

14.    Leave of Absence - Extension

    Move to extend the leave of absence of Kate Eosso, Secretary for Campbell School and Special Services Department, through approximately January 1, 2026 (Agenda 9/30/25, Section 13 A15).

15.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Deborah Lee, Paraprofessional at Edgar School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $24,241/year, prorated, effective December 5, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

----------------------------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.    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 September 30, 2025.

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 November 18, 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.    Change Order M&M Construction

    Move to approve the change orders as listed below:

5.    Grant Acceptance

    Move to approve the 2025-2026 Wellness Grant Award through the Schools Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in the amount of $11,663 and $2,500 stipend to Maryanne Vitagliano to administer the grant. Stipend is included in the grant. 

6.    Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Move to approve the district's Comprehensive Maintenance Plan for the 2026-2027 school year.

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case.

• EMS100925001

2.    Suspensions

    The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for October 27, 2025 - November 14, 2025.

3.    First Reading of Policies and Regulations

    Move to approve the first readings of the following policies and regulations:

• P 6220    Budget Preparation (M)

• P 6111    Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) Program (M)

• P 1636.01    Notification of Promotion, New Job, and Transfer Opportunities

• P 0173    Duties of Public-School Accountant

• P 0143    Board Member Election and Appointment

• P 0177    Professional Services (M)

• P 0174    Legal Services (M)

• R 6220    Budget Preparation

• R 6111    Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) Program (M)

• P 1648.15     Recordkeeping for Healthcare Settings In School Buildings – 

Covid-19 (M) (Abolished)

----------------------------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.    ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Grant 2025-2026

Move to approve the district’s ESSA grant for 2025-2026 school year to accept the allocations and intended use as per the application (Agenda 8/26/25, Section 13, B8):

3.    Professional Development

    Move to approve F Jones Consulting & Team, LLC DBA Magnolia Consulting Group to provide professional development for I&RS and 504 teams on tiered interventions and supports, for the 2025-2026 school year, not to exceed $5,600.

4.    Professional Development

    Move to approve F Jones Consulting & Team, LLC DBA Magnolia Consulting Group to provide professional development for Special Education teachers for the 2025-2026 school year on behavior strategies and interventions, not to exceed $5,600(IDEA grant funded).

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