THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024

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

❖    Student Advisory Board

❖    New Hires

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

7. Presentations 

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

Oftentimes 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 - Administrator

Move to approve the appointment of Jennifer Asprocolas, Principal at Moss School, for the 2024-2025 school year, at a salary of $149,500/year, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. 

2. Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff 

Move to approve the leave of absence of Nicole Valera, 4th Grade Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately March 1, 2024 through approximately March 18, 2024.

3. Appointment - Administrator 

Move to approve the appointment of Paul Pineiro as Interim Assistant Principal at Metuchen High School, from April 8, 2024 through approximately May 3, 2024, at a rate of $515/day.

4.    Coach - Revision MHS Spring Coach

    Move to rescind the following 2023-2024 Metuchen High School spring coach appointment (Agenda 07/18/2023, Section 13, A8):

5.    Campbell School Club - Revision

Move to rescind and approve the following co-curricular stipend for the 2023-2024 school year as listed (Agenda 11/14/23, Section 13, A6):

6.    Appointment – Additional Event Staff

Move to approve the following additional Event Staff for the 2023-2024 school year, effective February 27, 2024 (Agenda 8/8/23, Section 13, A10):

7.    Appointment - Additional Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of additional substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year, effective February 27, 2024, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance:

8.    Additional MHS Weight Room Supervisor

    Move to approve the following as a weight room supervisor for the 2023-2024 school year, effective February 27, 2024, at the rate of $30/hour, as needed (Agenda 06/13/2023, Section 13, A21):

9.     Additional Volunteer Robotics Coaches - Edgar School

    Move to approve the following additional volunteer coaches for the Robotics Team at Edgar Middle School for the 2023-2024 school year (Agenda 01/23/2024, Section 13, A8):

10.    Appointment - Leave Replacement 

    Move to approve the appointment of Mark Dubyna, Leave Replacement for Kevin Smedley, Industrial Arts Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective approximately May 17, 2024 through approximately June 20, 2024, at a rate of $346.90/day (includes 6th period stipend). 

11.    Revision - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the rate revision of Rebecca Porretto, Leave Replacement for Andrea Agnone, Special Education Teacher at Edgar School, effective February 5, 2024 through approximately April 15, 2024, at a rate of $346.90/day (includes 6th period stipend). (Agenda 2/13/24, Section 13 A2)

----------------------------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, 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 February 27, 2024 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, 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.    Resolution - Special Inspection Services

WHEREAS, the Metuchen Board of Education (“Board”) issued an RFP for special inspection services in connection with the Board’s Additions & Renovations at Multiple Schools referendum projects (“Services”); and

WHEREAS, the Board received three (3) proposals in response to the RFP; and

WHEREAS, upon a review and analysis of the proposals, the Board determined that the proposal submitted by Underwood Engineering, Inc., Cherry Lane, New Jersey, was in the best interests of the Board, price and other factors considered.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board hereby awards a contract for the Services to Underwood Engineering, Inc, Cheery Lane, New Jersey, in the amount of $27,500.00; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board’s construction counsel is authorized to prepare a contract for the Services, subject to approval by the Administration.

----------------------------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 12, 2024 - February 24, 2024. 

2. Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case.

• EMS012524001

 ----------------------------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