THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

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 Criterion Sentinel, The Star Ledger, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

❖    Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Ensemble is part of a comprehensive Jazz Program at Metuchen High School taught by John Messenger and John Flynn.  The Jazz program includes Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band, which are both traditional big bands, and the new Jazz Lab program which is open to the entire school. The Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble competes throughout the year in local jazz festivals and also at the annual New Jersey Association for Jazz Educators State Jazz Festival.  Highlights from this past season include winning awards for best trumpet section at the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Festival, Junior Trumpet JJ Wyetzner receiving best soloist awards at the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Festival, the JP Stevens Festival, and also at the NJAJE State Jazz Semi-Finals Festival. The band received a silver rating and was ranked as one of the top 9 bands in the state at NJAJE Semi-finals.  This allowed the band to compete at NJAJE State Jazz Finals where they received gold rating and are currently ranked in 4th place overall in the state.

Jazz Ensemble will be performing Birdland by Joe Zawinul. 

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Referendum - Roof work/HVAC needs and highlights, Capacity issues/highlights of extra space via new construction or reduction of a grade - Mr. Harvier and Dr. Caputo

8. Reports

• President’s Report

• Superintendent's Report

• Committee Reports

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)

Often times 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. Title III SEI Training

Move to approve the following staff members to participate in SEI Training at a rate of $47 an hour not to exceed 15 hours to be paid for with Title III funds (20-241-200-100) and completed by June 17, 2022.

2.    Appointment – Additional Substitute Secretary

    Move to approve the appointment of the following additional substitute secretary for the 2021-2022 school year at a rate of $14.38/hour, effective May 11, 2022, pending criminal background clearance (Agenda 8/24/2021, Section 13 A8):

3.    Resignation - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept the resignation of Daniel Rosa, School Psychologist at Edgar Middle School, effective August 31, 2022.

4.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

Move to approve the appointment of Courtney Crawford, School Psychologist at Edgar Middle School, for the 2022-2023 school year, at a salary of $66,220, Step 5G, effective August 31, 2022 through June 30, 2023. 

5.    Resignation - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept the resignation of Kelsey Comerford, Media Specialist at Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School, effective June 30, 2022. 

6.    Reappointment - Non-Tenured Administrators

    Move to approve the reappointment of the following non-tenured administrators for the 2022-2023 school year as shown on Attachment 1 (first page).

7.    Reappointment - Non-Tenured Teachers

    Move to approve the reappointment of the following non-tenured teachers for the 2022-2023 school year a shown on Attachment 1 (second through fourth pages).

8.    Revision – MHS Mentor Teacher

Move to revise the MHS Mentor Teacher assignment as follows (Agenda 4/26/22, Section 13A 3):

9.    Retirement - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve the retirement of Ken Eagel, Industrial Arts Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective June 30, 2022.

10.    Additional Instructional Stipend

    Move to approve the following additional instructional stipend for the 2021-2022 school year, effective May 16, 2022:

11.    Appointment – Substitutes

    Move to approve the additional substitute teachers for the 2021-2022 school year, effective May 11, 2022, pending criminal history clearance (Agenda 8/24/2021, Section 13 A5):

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Nonpublic Technology Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic technology aid for the 2021-2022 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.

2.    Corrective Action Plan

    Move to approve the corrective action plan for the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI).

3.    Parent-Paid Tuition for 2022-2023

    Move to approve the parent-paid tuition for the 2022-2023 school year:

*Tuition has increased by 5% each year

4.     Professional Development

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

5.    Appointment - Clinical, Therapeutic, Counseling and Behavioral Services

    Move to approve the appointment of the following to provide clinical, therapeutic, counseling and behavioral services for the 2022-2023 school year:  

• Effective School Solutions- to provide Therapeutic Mental Health Services for an annual contract of $378,940.   

• Rutgers UBHC- to provide Therapeutic Mental Health Services for an annual contract of $275,600.   

• Wellspring Center for Prevention to provide counseling services for an annual rate of $57,000 (ESSER 2 Grant Funded).

• Invo HealthCare Associates to provide the following professional services at the corresponding rates:

o    Occupational Therapy, $81.15/hr and $306 per evaluation, not to exceed $229,121 per year 

o    Speech Therapy, $79.56/hr and $300 per evaluation 

o    Registered Behavioral Technician, $47/hr

o    Board Certified Behavior Analyst, $98/hr

o    LCSW, $68/hr 

6.    School Security Grant

    Move to accept the NJDOE School Security Grant 22E00153 in the amount of $128,387.

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Suspensions

    The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for April 25- May 6, 2022.

----------------------------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.    Field Trips-Retroactive 

Move to retroactively 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