Board Meeting - August 8, 2023

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Dates: 
Friday, August 4, 2023 - 1:15pm

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2023

 

MEETING AGENDA

of the Metuchen Board of Education

Metuchen High School

400 Grove Avenue

Metuchen, NJ  08840

 

  1. Call to Order

 

  1. Flag Salute

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. Roll Call

 

Mr. Benderly

 

Ms. Killean

 

Ms. Cook

 

Mr. Lifton

 

Mr. Derflinger

 

Dr. Spigner

 

Mr. Glassberg

 

Mr. Suss

 

Dr. Johnson-Marcus

 

 

 

 

  1. Showcase of Success

 

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

 

  1. Presentations  

 

  1. Reports

  • President’s Report

  • Superintendent's Report

  • Committee Reports

 

  1. Old Business

 

  1. New Business

 

  1. Approval of Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings

 

July 18, 2023

  Special Business Meeting (1)

July 18, 2023

  Special Business Meeting (2)

July 18, 2023

  Board Meeting

 

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

 

  1. 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. Appointment - ESY Bus Aide

Move to approve Marilyn Levine, as a bus aide for Extended School Year, at her hourly rate of: $20.64/hr, not to exceed 36 hours.

 

2.    Appointment - ESY Bus Aide

    Move to approve Jessica Kovacs, as a bus aide for Extended School Year, at the teacher hourly rate of $24.44/hr, not to exceed 36 hours.  

 

3.    Appointment - ESY Bus Aide

    Move to approve Colleen Hines, as a bus aide for Extended School Year, at her hourly rate of: $21.84/hr, not to exceed 24 hours.  

 

4.    Speech Language Pathology Externship

    Move to approve Sarah Weiner for a Speech Language Pathology Externship placement at Campbell School for the Fall 2023 through Kean University’s program. 

 

5.    Clinical Fieldwork Observation

    Move approve Jessica Kovacs to conduct clinical fieldwork observation hours at Moss and Campbell.

 

6.    Safety Care Training - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the following certified staff to participate in Safety Care Training at the the rate of $49/hr, not to exceed 12 hours each:

 

Jennifer Pasquale

Beth McLaughlin

Lauren Campbell

Lisa Chango

 

7.    Safety Care Training - Non-Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the following non-certificated staff to participate in Safety Care training for up to twelve hours at their hourly rate as follows: 

 

Name

Rate

Emily Almeida

$20.34

MaryJo Paulmenn

$22.49

Dee Parker

$20.64

Saadia Rizwan

$20.64

Rose DiLeonardo

$20.34

 

8.    Appointment - Lunch Aides

    Move to approve the following lunch aides in the Metuchen Public Schools for the 2022-2023 school year, effective September 5, 2023, pending criminal history clearance*:

 

Name

Rate

Ana Ayala

$15/hour

Nancy Chin

$15/hour

Leenam Dalal

$15/hour

Joan DiFino

$15/hour

Erin Gawronski

$15/hour

Sheri Kady

$15/hour

Donato Minutillo

$15/hour

Carol Spears

$15/hour

Jeffrey Salzer

$15/hour

Cheryl Weisberg

$15/hour

Debra Knight

$15/hour

 

9.    Instructional and Non-Instructional Stipends

Move to approve the following Instructional and Non-Instructional Stipends for the 2022-2023 school year as listed on the attached chart.

 

10.    Appointment - Event Staff

    Move to approve the following Event Staff for the 2023-2024 school year, at the rate of $55 per event:

 

Beth Abbott

Drew Bandola

Alexa Baird

Dawn Valovcin

Margo Banner

Richard Cundari

Christina Dybas

Karen Van de Castle

Jessica Gesumaria

Yoko Kato

William Latta

Anais Ortega

Mark Mooney

Chad Murray

Susan Paredes

Lindsay Nalepa

Samantha Rubin

Amanda Shorr

Michael Warnock

Ryan Clapp

Marilyn Levine

Maureen Azzara

Kathy Mallory

Karin Flores

Joe Keagle

Kathy Keers-Nolde

Mike Knoth

Carolyn Taylor

Jim Thomas

Panos Tzetzos

Bob Ulmer

Mike Molfetto

Nickolas Vosinas

Julie Youngman

Nicholas Zaneto 

 




 

11.    Appointment- Cash Box

    Move to approve Kathy Mallory and Maureen Azzara for the 2023-2024 school year to handle the Cash Box at athletic events, at the following rates:

 

Position

MHS Football Games (per game)

MHS Basketball Games (per game)

Cash Box

$ 78

$ 67

 

12.    Informal Mentor Teachers

    Move to approve the following staff to serve as an informal mentor for the 2023-2024 school year, effective August 30, 2023, to be paid at a rate of $49/hour, not to exceed six hours: 

 

New Teacher

School

Mentor

Emily Caponigro

MHS

Chad Murray

Jessica Gesumaria

MHS

Alexa Baird

Kevin Smedley

MHS

Bonnie Stanski

Jennifer Stranz

MHS

Jonathan Stevens

Drew Bandola

MHS & EMS

Michelle Huff

Andrew Southern

EMS

Rachel Divanno

Alexis Wolford

EMS

Lauren Thompson

Jillieanna Peguero

EMS

Michele Brinkerhoff

Alicia Haller

EMS

Beth McLaughlin

Adrianna Reyes

CES

Kristina Bormann 

Brianna Fortino

Moss

Emily Donlin

 

13.    Formal Mentor Teachers

    Move to approve the following formal mentor teachers to work with the following mentee teachers for the 2023 – 2024 school year: 

 

New Teacher/Leave Replacement

School

Mentor

Payment Traditional Route

$550.00

Alternate Route

$1,000.00

Lauren Kim

MHS

Adam Levy

$550

Julia Vaughn

EMS

Ken Smith

$550

Nicolette Jomo

EMS

Rick Carter

$550

Amanda Rossmeissl

CES

Jonathan Nolde

$550

Rebecca Klein

CES

Charmane Montgomery

$1000

Shannon MacMenamie

Moss

Katie Upshaw

$550

Jessica Kovacs

Moss

Kelsee Young

$1000

 

14.    Revision - ESY 1:1 Nurse 

    Move to approve Laura Hermans as 1:1 Nurse for the 2023 ESY for up to 50 hours, at a rate of $46.76 per hour, not to exceed $2,338 (Agenda 06/27/2023, Section 13, A15).

 

15.    Appointment - Supervisor

    Move to approve the appointment of Kate Lemerich, Supervisor for the Metuchen School District, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $125,000/year, prorated, effective approximately August 28, 2023 through June 30, 2024. 

16.    Appointment - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve the appointment of Nicolette Jomo, PE/Health Teacher at Edgar Middle School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $55,775/year, Step 1A, effective August 30, 2023 through June 30, 2024. 

 

17.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Janine Haulenbeek, Paraprofessional at Edgar Middle School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $23,127/year, effective August 30, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

 

18.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to accept the resignation of Carmela Fogarile, Paraprofessional at Moss School, effective June 30, 2023.

 

19.    Salary Adjustment - Principals/Assistant Principals 

    Move to approve the salary adjustment of the following Principals/Assistant  Principals for the 2023-2024 school year, effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 at the annual salaries as follows (Agenda 06/13/2023, Section 13, A15, and Agenda 5/9/2023, Section 13, A3):

 

Name 

Position 

Salary

Edward Porowski

MHS Principal

$169,484

Brian Stike 

MHS Assistant Principal 

  $135,800

Vincent Costanza

CES Principal

  $145,128

Brooke Kirschner 

CES Assistant Principal 

$140,113

Suzy Azevedo

EMS Principal

$146,950

Neyda Evans

EMS Assistant Principal

$136,070

 

20.    Salary Adjustment – Supervisors

    Move to approve the salary adjustment of the following supervisors for the 2023-2024 school year, effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 at the annual salaries as follows: (Agenda 06/13/2023, Section 13, A16, and Agenda 5/9/2023, Section 13, A3):

 

Name 

Position 

Salary

John Cathcart 

Supervisor 

$167,320

Kathleen Henn

Supervisor

$136,242

Ashley Jaye

Supervisor

$123,790

Louis Manziano

Supervisor

$118,396

Natalie Dougherty

Supervisor

$128,989

Ilana Kurtin

Supervisor

$121,986

Deneane Bonassisa

Supervisor

$123,600

 

21.    Salary Adjustment – Custodial Staff 

Move to approve the salary adjustment of the following custodial staff for the 2023- 2024 school year effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 at the annual  salary as follows (Agenda 07/18/2023, Section 13, A13):

 

Name 

Salary

Butler, Paula (Head Day Custodian)

$76,429

 

22.    Appointment - Paraprofessional 

    Move to approve the appointment of Rose DiLeonardo, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $23,127/year, effective August 30, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

 

23.    Stipend 

Move to approve the stipend of $908 for the 2023-2024 school year for Angelica Tafoya, Custodian, as a result of having her Black Seal Boiler Operator's License, effective July 01, 2023. 

 

24.    2023 New Teacher Academy Workshop

    Move to approve Evan Robbins as a Presenter for New Teacher Academy workshop at Edgar Middle School, at a rate of $49/hour, not to exceed 1 hour.

 

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

 

  1. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

 

1.    IDEA Grant for 2023-2024

    Move to approve the IDEA grant allocation for the 2023-2024 school year and the use of IDEA grant allocations towards special education needs:

 

IDEA and IDEA Grant Allocation

 

IDEA 2023-2024

Basic allocation

$704,706

Preschool allocation total

$20,516

Total allocation

$725,222

 

2.    IDEA Grand Allocation for Salary

    Move to approve Moss Paraprofessional Annie Kim's salary of $24,613 to be partially funded by the IDEA grant, up to the amount of $18,516.

 

3.    FDU Orton Gillingham

    Move to approve Lindsey Omark and Jennifer Pasquale to coordinate the FDU Orton Gillingham student practicum, funded by the IDEA grant, at a rate of $49/hour, not to exceed $4,800.

 

4.    Stipend - Unified Club Advisor

    Move to approve Beth Abbott and Michele Huff as Unified Club Advisors, for a stipend of $1,168, funded by the IDEA grant.

 

5.     Professional Development

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

 

Start Date

End Date

Activity Title

Name

Building

Approved

Payment

FFPI Proposal 

#

7/26/

2023

7/26/

2023

Simple View of Writing

Harley, Melissa

Edgar

$200

FFPI

24-014

 

6.     Transportation Agreement

Move to approve transportation agreement for student #2020004.

 

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

 

  1. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

 

Nothing at this time. 

 

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

 

  1. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

    

    Nothing at this time.

 

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

 

  1. Meeting Open to Public (for any topic)

 

  1. Announcements

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. Adjournment

Groups audience: