THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 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 Star Ledger, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

❖    MHS Fall Play Preview - Mamma Mia!

ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Please join the MHS Footlighters for a performance of Mamma Mia! March 24th and 25th at 7 pm and March 26th at 2 pm at Metuchen High School. Tickets are available at the box office at the show or online at mhsfootlighters.com. Tonight, junior Katherine Meyer, who plays Donna, will sing “The Winner Takes it All".

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Curriculum, Athletics/Co-curricular, Line Item Budget and Tax Levy Analysis - 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 - Certificated Staff

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Michael Mazza, English Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective June 30, 2023.

2.    Medical Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the medical leave of absence of John Butler, PE/Health Teacher at Edgar School, effective March 6, 2023 through approximately March 31, 2023.

3.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Shannon Desch, Leave Replacement for John Butler, PE/Health Teacher at Edgar School, effective March 6, 2023 through approximately March 31, 2023.

4.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Alexis Wolford, Special Education Teacher at Edgar School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $57,500*, Step 1F, effective August 30, 2023 through June 30, 2024.  (*salary may be adjusted upon the settlement of the new contract).

5.    Appointment of Substitute Teacher

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

6.    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):  

7.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Lauren Kim, English Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $58,275*, Step 3D, effective August 30, 2023 through June 30, 2024. (*salary may be adjusted upon the settlement of the new contract).

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Bussing Fee

    Move to approve the partial subscription bussing fee of $525 for the 2023-2024 school year. 

2.    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.

3.    Acceptance of the 2021-2022 School Year Audit 

    Move to accept the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the accompanying Report to Management, and the synopsis prepared by the Superintendent, the Business Administrator, and Suplee, Clooney  & Company, with no corrective action necessary for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022.

4.    Adoption of the 2023-2024 Tentative School District Budget

WHEREAS, the Board of Education must adopt and submit a tentative 2023-2024 school district budget for the New Jersey Department of Education review and approval.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Metuchen Board of Education adopt the tentative 2023-2024 school district budget as follows:

The supporting documentation of the budget included an itemization of certain expenditures required under administrative regulations. Maximum travel budget is established at $85,000. Travel includes professional development that takes place outside the District.

5.    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.    Suspension Report

The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for February 27, 2023 - March 10, 2023. 

2.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported cases:

• METHS013023001

• EMS020923001 

• METHS021323001

• EMS021723001 

----------------------------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:

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