Board Meeting - December 19, 2023
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023
MEETING AGENDA
of the Metuchen Board of Education
Metuchen High School
400 Grove Avenue
Metuchen, NJ 08840
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Call to Order
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Flag Salute
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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, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.
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Roll Call
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Showcase of Success
❖ Tournament of Bands Chapter VII Group IV Open Champions
Tournament of Bands Group IV Open New Jersey State Champions
US Bands Group V Open Grand National Finalist
The marching band competes annually in the Tournament of Bands circuit with bands from NJ, PA, WV and MD. They are currently the biggest band in the entire circuit, coming from one of the smallest schools. They also compete in open class, which is the most advanced class in the circuit. The Pride of Metuchen Marching Band is currently back-to-back state and chapter champions. At the end of the season, the band also competed against bands from throughout the country in the US Bands Grand National Championship at MetLife Stadium.
2023-2024
Pride of Metuchen Marching Band
* = Section Leader
Flute and Piccolo
Devin Fineman *
Abigail Hogan
Mirabella Hom
Kiko Li
Bella Staal
Clarinet
Ashley Chen
Ada Dolan
Joseph Duhme *
Amira Elsayed
Emma Huber
Ximena Johnstone-Asturias *
Anika Kundu
Neela Myers
Chloe Shen *
Anushree Sutradhar
Low Reeds
Daniel Afkhami *
Ayaan Saha
Ishaan Sarkar
Alto Saxophone
Sara Haq
Eliman Kassogue
Habib Kassogue
Nene Murao *
Shinnosuke Murao
Ryan Stein
Gianna Toscano
Victoria Zaniecki
Melody Zetino *
Tenor Saxophone
Daniel Choi
Caleb Han
Harshith Pasam
Daniel Ruiz
Nicholas Timko
Ryan Timko *
Trumpet
Tariq Alisammond
Sean Blaze
Julia Diaz
Alistair Fawcett
Elizabeth Fineman
Connor Gaughan
Jackson Gould *
Logan MacPherson
Michael McNamara *
Aidan McPherson
Vedant Naik *
Brandon Zhu
Mellophone
Alyson Chan *
Nicholas Cosenza
Ethan DelaGarza
Gianna Hernandez *
Baritone
Avner Chaplin *
Nell Massey
Siddhant Naik
Nicholas Reuter
Gage Rodey
Bowen Zhang
Tuba
Eli Duhme
Chamber Lam
Rose Michaels-LaMorte
Oliver Sydor
Drumline
Madeleine Cook
Praket Jha
Arturs Krumins
Janhavi Malik
Zoya Malik
Riva Nagvekar
Tyler Nicholson
Aidan Ogborn *
Ripley Wong *
Allen Zheng
Front Ensemble
Peter Coreschi
Katy Donohue
Joshua Feldmann
Milo Haviland
Alexandra Ho
Lindsey Kang
Peter Kukuruza
Emily Lanton *
Katherine Meyer
Gavin Moorman
Ronan Sequeira
Daniel Stone
Marisol Torres
Matthew Zetino *
Michael Zetino
Guard
Elizabeth Aiyeleso
Jocelyn Branch
Faith Cordova
Michaela Coreschi
Munachiso Ezem-Madu
August Garner *
Evy Hand
Zora Haviland
Eileen He
Adrienne Lee
Melinda Li
Gwendolyn Osmond
Caelum Ritzdorf *
Emma Staal *
❖ Sports Champs
MHS Girls Cross Country
Red Division Champions
GMC Champions
Central Jersey Group 1 Sectional Champions
Group 1 Champions
Ella Andersen
Gianna Hernandez
Kaitlyn Hsueh
Sally Kelton
Lilly Kupersmit
Maggie Rivera
GMC Champion
Sectional Champion
Gianna Hernandez
MHS Boys Cross Country
White Division Champions
Central Jersey - Group 1 - State Sectional Champions
Brady Allen
Kai Englert
Arturs Krumins
Michael McNamara
Harry Moorman
Alex Patelski
Eric Schleif
James Vissichelli
White Division Champion
Central Jersey Group 1 Sectional Champion
Alex Patelski
MHS Girls Tennis
Co-White Division Champions
Julia Armour
Marina Armour
Alyson Joy Chan
Katie Chen
Nicole Dudek
Abigail Hogan
Lindsey Kang
Lauren Kantar
Emily Lan
Anna Leon
Cindy Li
Chelsea Lu
Mary McGrath
Erika Mihaylov
Suhani Modha
Nene Murao
Mai Nguyen
Samantha Schulz
Vrinda Surati
Gina Yip
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Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)
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Presentations
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Reports
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President’s Report
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Superintendent's Report
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Committee Reports
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Student Board Member Report
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Old Business
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New Business
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Approval of Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings
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Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)
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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.
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PERSONNEL
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
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Retirement - Custodial Staff
Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Mark Cooper, Head Night Custodian at Campbell School, effective February 1, 2024.
2. Resignation - Certificated Staff
Move to accept the resignation of Jaclyn Reisman, Metuchen High School Special Education Teacher, effective January 26, 2023.
3. Resignation - Paraprofessional
Move to accept the resignation of Ernest Svolto, Metuchen High School Paraprofessional, effective December 31, 2023.
4. Maternity Leave of Absence - Date Revision
Move to approve the updated effective date of the maternity leave of absence of Sofia Lopes, 4th Grade Teacher at Campbell School, effective December 14, 2023 through approximately May 23, 2024 (Agenda 7/18/23, Section 13 A17).
5. Volunteer Clubs - Additional
Move to approve the following Volunteer Clubs for the 2023-2024 school year as listed (Agenda 08/22/2023, Section 13, A10):
6. Appointment - Paraprofessional
Move to approve the appointment of Lauren Corrigan, Paraprofessional at Metuchen High School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $22,435/year, prorated, effective approximately January 22, 2024 (or earlier if released from her current district).
7. Appointment - Certificated Staff
Move to approve the appointment of Trey Jaworski, Biology Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $64,000/year, Step 1H, prorated, effective approximately January 30, 2024.
8. Appointment - Leave Replacement
Move to approve the appointment of Maricruz Araujo, as Leave Replacement for Edgar School Spanish Teacher, effective December 12, 2023, at the rate of $150/day.
9. Appointment - Paraprofessional
Move to approve the appointment of Victoria Dunyak, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $24,255/year, prorated, effective December 20, 2023.
10. Rate Increase – Substitute Secretaries
Move to approve the rate increase for the following Substitute Secretaries, to $16/hour, effective January 1, 2024.
11. Rate Increase – Substitute Custodians
Move to approve the rate increase for the following Substitute Custodians, to $16/hour, effective January 1, 2024.
12. Rate Increase – Lunch Aides
Move to approve the rate increase for the following Lunch Aides, to $16/hour, effective January 1, 2024.
13. Family Medical Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff
Move to approve the family medical leave of absence of Deanna Kindler, First Grade Teacher at Campbell School, effective November 13, 2023 through approximately December 22, 2023.
14. Appointment - Certificated Staff
Move to approve the appointment of Adero Solomon, Special Education Math Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $58,564/year, Step 3A, prorated, effective approximately January 29, 2024, pending receipt of certification, through June 30, 2024.
15. Appointment - Additional Substitutes
Move to approve the appointment of the additional substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year, effective December 1, 2023, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance:
16. Rate Increase – Daily Substitutes
Move to approve the rate increase for the substitute teachers and paras, as listed on the attached, effective January 1, 2024.
17. Student Teacher Mentor Stipend
Move to approve a Student Teacher mentor stipend of $275 to Jeremy Barnes, Campbell School Teacher, for mentoring Michael Small, Student Teacher, for the months of September to December 2023 funded by the University of Phoenix.
18. Appointment - MHS Winter Coach
Move to approve the following 2023-2024 Metuchen High School Coach Appointment:
19. Leave Replacement
Move to approve the appointment of Christine Piovoso, Leave Replacement for Deanna Kindler, First Grade Teacher at Campbell School, at a rate of $301.49/day, effective December 13, 2023 through approximately December 22, 2023.
20. MHS Winter Coach - Rescind
Move to rescind the appointment of the following coach for the Winter 2023-2024 school sports session at Metuchen High School (Agenda 06/13/2023, Section 13 A19):
21. Medical Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff
Move to approve the medical leave of absence of Andrea Agnone, Special Education Teacher at Edgar School, effective December 7, 2023 through December 22, 2023.
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FINANCE
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
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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 October 31, 2023.
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 December 19, 2023 no budgetary line item accounts have obligations and payments which exceed the amount appropriated by the Board of Education.
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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 October 31, 2023.
4. Professional Development
Move to approve the following professional development activities as shown on the following chart:
5. Nonpublic Technology Aid
Move to approve the following nonpublic technology aid for the 2023-2024 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. Behavioral Technician Services - Revision
Move to approve Soliant Health, LLC, to provide behavioral technician services, at a rate of up to $65/hour, not to exceed $120,000 (Agenda 11/28/2023, Section 13, B7).
7. BCBA Services
Move to approve Brett DiNovi & Associates as a provider of independent BCBA services for the 2023-2024 school year, at a rate of $135/hour and Clinical Associates services at a rate of $60.50/hour, not to exceed $60,000 (Agenda 06/27/2023, Section 13, B31).
8. Resolution
WHEREAS on December 7, 2023, the Metuchen Board of Education (“Board”) held a public bid opening for additions and alterations at Metuchen Schools; at Moss and Edgar Middle School
WHEREAS the Board received six (6) bids at the public bid opening; and
WHEREAS all of the bids received substantially exceeded the Board’s cost estimates for the Project and the Board’s appropriation for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the bids are not reasonable as to price based upon the prior cost estimates provided to the Board; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22 permits a board of education to reject all bids when they substantially exceed the Board’s appropriation for the Project and/or the Board’s cost estimates for the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the above recitals are incorporated herein as if set forth here at length.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22, the Board rejects all bids for the Project on the basis that 1) they are unreasonable as to price as they substantially exceed the Board’s cost estimate for the Project and/or 2) substantially exceed the Board’s appropriation for the Project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Administrator is authorized to return the bid securities of all bidders.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Administrator is authorized to re-bid the Project.
9. Resolution
WHEREAS on December 14, 2023, the Metuchen Board of Education (“Board”) held a public bid opening for additions and alterations at Metuchen Schools; and Campbell Elementary and Metuchen High School
WHEREAS the Board received three (3) bids at the public bid opening; and
WHEREAS all of the bids received substantially exceeded the Board’s cost estimates for the Project and the Board’s appropriation for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the bids are not reasonable as to price based upon the prior cost estimates provided to the Board; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22 permits a board of education to reject all bids when they substantially exceed the Board’s appropriation for the Project and/or the Board’s cost estimates for the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the above recitals are incorporated herein as if set forth here at length.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22, the Board rejects all bids for the Project on the basis that 1) they are unreasonable as to price as they substantially exceed the Board’s cost estimate for the Project and/or 2) they substantially exceed the Board’s appropriation for the Project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Administrator is authorized to return the bid securities of all bidders.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Administrator is authorized to re-bid the Project.
10. Resolution
BE IT RESOLVED that the Metuchen Board of Education hereby authorizes the use of a Project Labor Agreement for additions and alterations at the Metuchen Schools.
11. Technology Equipment Disposal
Move to approve the disposal of the technology equipment as shown on the attached list.
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POLICY
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
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Suspensions
The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for November 24, 2023 - December 15, 2023.
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CURRICULUM
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
1. Field Trips - Retroactive
Move to approve the following field trip, retroactively, for students in the Metuchen School District as shown:
2. Field Trips
Move to approve the following field trips for students in the Metuchen School District as shown:
3. Curriculum Writing
Move to approve the following curriculum writers for the following subjects:
4. Outdated Book Disposal
Move to approve the disposal of outdated books from the Campbell Elementary School Library as per the guidelines outlined in the district's policy on Disposition of Property.
5. Externship
Move to approve Devin Croake for an Externship placement with the following teachers for the Spring 2024 through Lafayette College:
6. Curriculum Writers
Move to rescind and approve the following curriculum writers and amounts for Summer 2022, (Agenda 6/14/22, Section 13 D2):
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Meeting Open to Public (for any topic)
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Announcements
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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.
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Adjournment