THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023

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

❖    Student Advisory Board

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Curriculum, Technology, School Based Budget, Special Education - 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)

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. Retirement - School Secretary

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Charlene Nicholls, Secretary at Metuchen High School, effective June 1, 2023.

2.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

Move to accept the resignation of Andrea Romano, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective February 8, 2023.

3.    Reappointment - Superintendent of Schools

    Be It Resolved that Dr. Vincent Caputo is hereby reappointed as Superintendent of Schools for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028, pursuant to the terms of a written employment agreement approved by the Executive County Superintendent of Schools.

4.    Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities – Revision

    Move to approve the following co-curricular stipend revision for the co-curricular activity for the 2022-2023 school year as listed (Agenda 08/23/22, Section 13 A14):

5.    Intervention Services

    Move to approve the following certified staff to provide beyond the school day intervention services for the 2022-2023 school year at the hourly rate of $48/hr (ESSER III funded): 

6.    Retirement - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Deborah Brown, Social Studies Teacher at Edgar School, effective June 30, 2023. 

7.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the resignation of Ashley Keller, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective February 17, 2023.

8.    YMCA Before and After Care

    Move to approve the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy as the before and after school provider for Moss and Campbell pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-4.1 et seq for the 2023-2024 SY plus extensions as set forth in the request for proposals.

9.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Jessica Gesumaria, English Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2022-2023 school year, at a salary of $55,000/year, Step 1C, prorated, effective approximately May 1, 2023, or earlier if she is released from her current district.

10.    Medical Leave of Absence - Extension

    Move to approve the extension of the medical leave of absence of JoAnn Rice, Secretary at Edgar School, through approximately March 31, 2023 (Agenda 2/7/23, Section 13 A9).

11.    Medical Leave of Absence - Extension 

    Move to approve the extension of the medical leave of absence of Mark Cooper, Custodian at Campbell School, through approximately March 31, 2023 (Agenda 2/7/23, Section 13 A4).

12.    Medical Leave of Absence - Extension 

    Move to approve the extension of the medical leave of absence of Sandra Spinelli, Paraprofessional at Moss School, through approximately March 10, 2023 (Agenda 1/17/23, Section 13 A5).

13.    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):  

14.    Appointment of Substitute Paraprofessionals

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

15.    Appointment of Substitute Secretary

    Move to approve the appointment of the following additional substitute secretary for the 2022-2023 school year (Agenda 6/28/2022 Section 13 A21): 

16.    Appointment - 1:1 Substitute Nurse

    Move to approve the appointment of Katrina Jacobson to provide 1:1 per diem substitute nursing services for the 2022-2023 school year, at a rate of $280/day, effective 02/27/2023 (Agenda 08/23/22 Section 13 A22).

17.    Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities - Revision

    Move to rescind and approve the following co-curricular stipends for the co-curricular activities for the 2022-2023 school year as listed (Agenda 10/11/22, Section 13 A9):

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. 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 December 31, 2022.

2.   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 28, 2023 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.

3.   Budget Transfers

Move to approve budget transfers effective December 31, 2022.

4.    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.

5.    Nonpublic Technology Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic technology 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.

6.    Athletic Transportation Routes

    Move to approve the following rates for athletic transportation routes with George Dapper Inc. for the 2023-2024 school year. 

7.    In-District Transportation Routes

    Move to approve the following daily routes for in-district transportation routes with George Dapper Inc. for the 2023-2024 school year. 

8.    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 February 9, 2023 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 #6, a 2007 Chevy/Girardin G5 Small DRW Bus 20 passenger school bus (VIN 1GBJG31U561219563)

The winning bid was received from WadeMade Shoppe in the amount of $4,736. 

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 “WadeMade Shoppe” once the BOE receives the amount paid in full.

9.    Professional Development

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

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. Suspensions

The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for February 3, 2023 - February 24, 2023. 

2.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported cases:

• CES010623001 

• METHS010923001 

• METHS011723001

• EMS020123001 

3.    Second Reading of Policies and Regulations

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

❖ P 1648.11    The Road Forward COVID-19 – Health and Safety (M) (Abolish)

❖ P 1648.13     School Employee Vaccination Requirements (M) (Abolish)

❖ P 0161     Call, Adjournment, and Cancellation 

❖ P 0162     Notice of Board Meetings 

❖ P & R 2423     Bilingual and ESL Education (M) 

❖ P 2425     Emergency Virtual or Remote Instruction Program (M)

❖ R 2425     Emergency Virtual or Remote Instruction Program (M) (New)

❖ P 5512     Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying (M) 

❖ P 6630     Athletic Fund

❖ P 8140     Student Enrollments (M) 

❖ R 8140     Enrollment Accounting (M) 

❖ P & R 8330     Student Records (M) 

❖ R 8420.2     Bomb Threats (M) 

❖ R 8420.7     Lockdown Procedures (M) 

❖ R 8420.10     Active Shooter (M) 

4.    RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A COOPERATIVE SPORTS PROGRAM 

WHEREAS, the Metuchen Board of Education does not sponsor a Boys’ Lacrosse Program at Metuchen High School because it currently has an insufficient number of students to participate in a Boys’ Lacrosse Sport Program; and

WHEREAS, there are students enrolled in the Metuchen High School who have expressed an interest in participating in a high school Boys’ Lacrosse Sport Program; and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association permits cooperative sports programs between two or more member schools where those schools have an insufficient number of students to participate in a sport; and

WHEREAS, the Edison Board of Education has a Boys’ Lacrosse Program and has agreed to accept the Metuchen High School students into the John P. Stevens High School Boys’ Lacrosse program; and

WHEREAS, the Metuchen Board of Education and the Edison Board of Education have negotiated the terms of an agreement whereby the Metuchen High School students would be permitted to participate in John P. Stevens High School Boys’ Lacrosse Program, at no cost to the Metuchen Board of Education; and

WHEREAS, the Superintendent of Schools recommends that the Metuchen Board of Education approve the Cooperative Sports Program to permit Metuchen High School students to participate in the John P. Stevens High School Boys’ Lacrosse Program for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Metuchen Board of Education hereby: 

1. Approve the Agreement for the Cooperative Sports Program between the Metuchen Board of Education and the Edison Board of Education for the Boys’ Lacrosse Program for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years;

2. Authorize and acknowledge the Edison Board of Education’s role as lead agency in charge of the John P. Stevens High School Boys’ Lacrosse program, including the supervision of the program participants; and 

3. Authorize the Metuchen Board of Education’s administration and Metuchen Board of Education’s Board Attorney to take all necessary and appropriate steps to carry out this action of the Metuchen Board of Education.

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Facilitator for EMS SEL Mentor Program

    Move to approve the following teacher to serve as facilitator for the EMS SEL Mentor Program for the 2022-2023 school year, not to exceed 20 hours each at the contractual rate of $48 per hour. To be paid from the Title IV Federal grant. 

2.    Curriculum Writing 

    Move to approve the following curriculum writer and the following documents listed below, not to exceed $1,400.

3.    Student Observer - Revision

    Move to rescind and approve the following Student Observer and cooperating teachers in our school district for the Spring of 2023 (Agenda 12/13/2022 Section 13 A17):

4.    Field Trips

Move to 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