Board Meeting - January 3, 2023

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

THE ANNUAL REORGANIZATION MEETING

of the Metuchen Board of Education

Metuchen High School

400 Grove Avenue

Metuchen, NJ 08840

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

8:00pm

1.    Call to Order by Pro-Tem Chair, Michael A. Harvier, Board Secretary

2.    Sunshine Statement and Announcement of Purpose 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.

3.     Flag Salute

4.    Administration of Required Oaths to the Board Members Elected on November 8, 2022.

5.    Roll Call

6.    Announcement of Election Results 

7.    Pro-Tem Chair Will Conduct Election of the Board President

8.    President Takes Chair

9.    Board President Will Conduct Election of the Board Vice-President

10.    Meeting Open to the Public on all Previous Items

11.    Presentation/Discussions

12.    Remarks by President

13.    Report of Superintendent

14.    Committee Reports

15.    Old Business

16.    New Business

17.    Meeting Open to the Public

(for comments on the recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools)

18.    Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings

    Move to approve the minutes of the following meetings:

19.    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.    Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities - Revisions

    Move to rescind and approve the following co-curricular stipends for the co-curricular activities for the 2022-2023 school year as listed (Agenda 08/23/2022 Section 13 A15):

2.    Appointment - Help Desk Technician

    Move to approve the appointment of Christopher Sneedse, Help Desk Technician for Metuchen Public Schools, for the 2022-2023 school year, at a salary of $55,000/year, prorated, effective February 6, 2023 through June 30, 2023, pending criminal history clearance. 

3.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Susan Fackler, Leave Replacement for Amanda Marciante, Campbell School Nurse, effective approximately February 24, 2023 through approximately June 23, 2023, at a rate of $291.89/day.

4.    Appointment - Paraprofessional 

    Move to approve the appointment of Sandy Iacona, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2022-2023 school year, at a salary of $23,731/year, prorated, effective January 17, 2023, through June 30, 2023.

5.    Appointment - 1:1 Nurse

    Move to approve the appointment of Laura Hermans, 1:1 Nurse at Moss School, for the 2022-2023 school year, effective January 9, 2023 through June 30, 2023, pending NJ certification, at a rate of $45/hour. 

6.    Salary Adjustment – Certificated Staff

    Move to approve a change in base salary for Nga Pham, Moss School Nurse, from Step 1F, $57,500/year, to Step 3F, $60,375/year, as a result of earning her Master’s Degree, effective February 1, 2023.

7.    Resignation - Lunch Aide

    Move to accept the resignation of Sheri Kady, Lunch Aide at Campbell School, effective December 22, 2023.

8.    Appointment of Substitute Teachers

    Move to approve the appointment of the following additional substitute teachers for the 2022-2023 school year, pending criminal history clearance and substitute certification (Agenda 8/23/2022 Section 13 A16):  

9.    Appointment of Substitute Nurses

    Move to approve the appointment of the following additional substitute nurses for the 2022-2023 school year, pending completion of substitute nurse certification and criminal history clearance (Agenda 8/23/2022 Section 13 A20):  

10.     Appointment of Substitute Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of the following additional substitute paraprofessional for the 2022-2023 school year (Agenda 8/23/2022 Section 13 A17): 

11.    Appointment of Substitute Secretaries

    Move to approve the appointment of the following additional substitute secretaries for the 2022-2023 school year, pending criminal history clearance (Agenda 6/28/2022 Section 13 A21): 

12.    Speech Externs

    Move to approve the following Speech Externs from January 2, 2023 through June 20, 2023, pending criminal history clearance and substitute certification:

13.    Zone Staff

    Move to approve paraprofessional Hope Serratelli to provide assistance at the Edgar Zone, for the 2022-2023 SY as needed, at a rate of $24.65/hr.

14.    Safety Care Trainer - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the following certificated staff to provide Safety Care training to district staff at the hourly rate as shown:

15.    Safety Care Training -  Staff

    Move to approve the following staff to participate in Safety Care training, outside of the school day, not to exceed twelve hours at the following hourly rates, as follows:

16.    Psychology Practicum

    Move to approve Ghadeer Afifi to complete a School Psychology Practicum experience at Edgar and MHS, January 2023 through June 2023, pending criminal history clearance and substitute certification.

17.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to accept the resignation of Christina Ettore, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective January 6, 2023.

18.    Appointment - Child Study Team Social Worker

    Move to approve Anna Gonnello to provide substitute Child Study Team School Social Work services, at the professional rate of $48/hr.

19.    Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities – Addition 

    Move to approve the following co-curricular stipend for the co-curricular activity for the 2022-2023 school year as listed (Agenda 8/23/22, Section 13 A14):

20.    Volunteer Clubs 

    Move to approve the following additional Volunteer Clubs for the 2022-2023 school year as listed (Agenda 8/23/22, Section 13 A15):

21.    Coaching Mentor Assignment

    Move to approve the following coaching mentor assignment for the 2022-2023 school year:

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Nonpublic Security Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic security aid for the 2022-2023 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.    Renewal - NJSBA Coop Agreement

    Move to approve NJSBA K12 Classroom Products and Services - Contract #E-8801-NJSBA-ACES-CPS.

3.    Professional Development

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

4.    Resolution to Accept High Offer of School Bus Sale

SO BE IT RESOLVED that, in accordance with with N.J.S.A. 40A:65-1, et.seq. and N.J.S.A. 18A:6-51, et.seq., the Metuchen Board of Education, via active Inter-Local Vehicle Sale Agreement with the HCESC accept the highest bid offer at a sealed-bid public bid opening which was held on December 20, 2022 at the Hunterdon County Education Services Commission Administration Office, located at 37 Hoffmans Crossing Road, Califon, New Jersey 07830 at 12:30 PM on the following vehicles:

Metuchen Board of Education Bus #2, a 2013 Ford/MicrobirdG5 Small DRW Wheelchair Lift Bus 20 passenger school bus (VIN 1FDFE4FL8DDA09379)

The winning bid was received from Toms River Regional School District in the amount of $25,000. 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that, as per this agreement the Metuchen Board of Education agrees that the vehicle or title shall be released to the buyer “Toms River Regional School District” once the BOE receives the amount paid in full.

5.    Duties of Business Administrator/Board Secretary

Move to approve the following duties/position of Michael A. Harvier, Business

Administrator/Board Secretary through December 31, 2023:

a ) PACO-Public Agency Compliance Officer for Affirmative Action.

6.    ABA Services

    Move to approve  We Care Autism to provide the following ABA services at the following rates, as needed:

• ABA therapy - $85/hr

• Speech therapy - $150/hr

• BCBA services - $150/hr

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Suspensions

    The board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report for December 12, 2022 - December 23, 2022. 

2.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported cases:

• CES102422001

• EMS110122003

• CES112222001

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

D.    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.    2022 Curriculum Summer Writing

    Move to rescind and approve the following curriculum writing documents, writers and amounts for Summer 2022(Agenda 6/14/2022, Section 13 D2):

3.    ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Grant Carryover 2022-2023

    Move to approve the district’s ESSA Grant Carryover: 

4.    Foundational Skills Curriculum Mapping

    Move to approve the following staff member to create Foundational Skills Curriculum Maps for up to 5 hours at the current contractual hourly rate of $48 for the grade level indicated below:

----------------------------end of curriculum section--------------------------

20.    Reorganization

    a.    Set Regular Meetings of the Board of Education

        Move to approve the Board of Education Meeting Schedule for 2023.

    b.    NJSBA Code of Ethics

        Move to approve the adoption of the NJSBA Code of Ethics for 2023.

21.    Meeting Open to the Public (for anything you wish to discuss)

22.    Announcements 

23.    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.

24.    Adjournment