THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 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, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

❖    Edgar School Spring Musical

Edgar Middle School Drama Club proudly presents Disney’s Camp Rock The Musical on April 19th, 20th, and 21st at Metuchen High School. This show includes songs from the two Disney Channel “Camp Rock” original movies, and a story based on “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam”. When the Camp Rockers arrive at camp, ready to spend another summer jamming out and having the time of their lives, they are shocked to find the new, flashy Camp Star across the lake that now threatens Camp Rock’s very existence. To keep the doors open, Mitchie steps up, rallies her fellow Camp Rockers, and gets them into top shape for the ultimate showdown! Tonight, Mikayla LaTorre and Milo Haviland will preview our show with a performance of “This is Me”.

❖    Edgar Middle School Science Fair 1st Place Winners

        5th grade - Aiden Guhin - Which Lotion Is Most Hydrating?

        6th grade - Natasha Drapkin-Clarke and Kavya Gandhi - Nail Adhesives

        7th grade - Krishay Nair and Addyson Madeo - Winderful Turbines

8th grade - Cristian Lazar-Galoiu and Patrick Turc - How Does Temperature Affect Viscosity?

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Mental Health Initiative - Dr. Tania Herzog

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. Appointment - Additional Event Staff

Move to approve the following additional Event Staff for the 2023-2024 school year (Agenda 08/08/2023, Section 13, A10):

2. Revision- Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities

Move to rescind the following co-curricular stipend for the 2023-2024 school year as listed (Agenda 8/22/23, Section 13 A9):

3.    Appointment - Additional Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of additional substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year, effective April 9, 2024, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance:

4.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Bob Ulmer, PE/Health Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective approximately May 14, 2024 through approximately May 28, 2024.

5.    Appointment – Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Christina Garison, Leave Replacement for Katie Upshaw, Preschool Self Contained Teacher at Moss School, at a rate of $301.49/day, effective approximately May 16, 2024 through approximately June 19, 2024. 

6.    Retirement - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Bonnie Stanski, Home Economics Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective June 30, 2024.

7.    Leave of Absence

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Angelina Dama-Delgado, Bus Driver, from March 18, 2024 through approximately June 30, 2024.

8.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to accept the resignation of William Colavito, Paraprofessional at Edgar Middle School, effective April 19, 2024. 

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Professional Development

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

2.    Resolution

    PARKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF METUCHEN AND METUCHEN BOARD OF EDUCATION

The parking spaces numbered 1-30 in the Social Center Parking Lot of First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen (FPC), located at 270 Woodbridge Ave, will be available to the staff at Moss School and Metuchen Board of Education (BOE) beginning on or about April 1, 2024 until October 31, 2024. At the end date of this agreement, FPC and Metuchen BOE will decide whether to continue this agreement. Either party can terminate the agreement at that time, for any reason.

Metuchen BOE will pay $1000/month for each month that Moss School or Metuchen BOE staff use the parking spaces.

3.    SEMI Action Plan

    Move to approve the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) Action Plan for the 2024-2025 school year. 

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. Suspensions

The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for March 25, 2024 - April 5, 2024. 

2.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case.

• EMS032024001

3.    Policies and Regulations for 2nd Reading 

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

❖ P 1140    Educational Equity Policies/Affirmative Action (M)  

❖ P 1523    Comprehensive Equity Plan (M)  

❖ P 1530    Equal Employment Opportunities (M)  

❖ R 1530    Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint Procedure (M)  

❖ P 1550    Equal Employment/Anti-Discrimination Practices (M)  

❖ R 2200    Curriculum Content (M)

❖ P 2260    Equity in School and Classroom Practices (M)  

❖ R 2260    Equity in School and Classroom Practices Complaint
Procedure (M) 

❖ P 2411    Guidance Counseling (M

❖ P & R 2423    Bilingual Education (M)  

❖ P & R 2431.4    Prevention and Treatment of Sports-Related Concussions and Head Injuries (M)  

❖ P 3211    Code of Ethics  

❖ R 5440    Honoring Student Achievement  

❖ P 5570    Sportsmanship  

❖ P 5750    Equitable Educational Opportunity (M)  

❖ P 5755    Equity in Educational Programs and Services (M)  (Abolished)

❖ P 5841    Secret Societies  

❖ P 5842    Equal Access of Student Organizations  

❖ P & R 7610    Vandalism  

❖ P 9323    Notification of Juvenile Offender Case Disposition  

 ----------------------------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: 

2.    Student Observer

    Move to approve the following Student Observer in our school district for the 2024 Spring semester, through the University of Connecticut:

3.    Curriculum Writers

    Move to approve the following curriculum writers and amounts for the 2023-2024 school year:

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