THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 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

❖    Edgar Middle School Art Display

This evening we have the pleasure of having the Edgar Middle School Arts Festival Preview showcased. Each student who has Art and Industrial Arts will have a piece of their work on display. Mrs. Gumbrecht, Ms. Banner and Mr. Tay will transform the Edgar gymnasium into an amazing showcase. On display is a sampling of 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade artists showcasing a variety of mediums including:

•    5th Grade tempera paint and oil pastels

•    6th Grade drip drawings, Sculpey clay, and Tim Burton inspired self portraits

•    7th Grade ceramic food sculptures and neurographics

•    8th Grade micrography, watercolors, and clay containers

Industrial Arts Projects produced by 6th, 7th and 8th grade woodworkers include:

•    Napkin holders

•    Shelf

•    Cutting Boards 

•    Clocks

Thanks to the Metuchen Education Foundation, students are able to utilize the Glowforge, a 3-D laser engraver. They have the ability to monogram boards, cut custom designs, and laser cut intricate designs into jewelry. Please join us Thursday June 6th from 7-9pm in the Edgar Middle School gymnasium to see the FULL Edgar Middle School Arts festival Experience!

❖    MHS Seal of Biliteracy

Metuchen High School is proud to announce the following 42 students received the New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy in Chinese, French, German, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Serbian, and Spanish.  The NJ State Seal of Biliteracy was established to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, listening and writing in one or more world languages in addition to English. To earn the NJ State Seal of Biliteracy students must meet graduation requirements for English Language Arts and earn a proficiency level of Intermediate Mid or higher on a state approved, world language assessment. Students noted with an asterisk also earned their Global Seal of Biliteracy. Congratulations to the following students:

Seniors

Ann Carlos -  Chinese

Devin Fineman -  Spanish

Marina Krumins-Beens -  Spanish 

Alex Patelski -  Spanish

Emma Staal -  German

Juniors

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

7. Presentations 

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. Leave of Absence - Paraprofessional

Move to approve the leave of absence of Farhana Omarzai, Paraprofessional at Edgar School, effective April 29, 2024 through June 30, 2024. 

2.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Rebecca Porretto, Leave Replacement for Elizabeth Rentenberg, Special Education Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately September 10, 2024 through approximately February 11, 2025, at a rate of $311.76/day. 

3.    Coaches – Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School Fall 2024

    Move to approve the following Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School coaches for the Fall 2024 school sports season as shown on the attached list.

4.    Coaches – Metuchen High School and Edgar Middles School Winter 2024- 2025

    Move to approve the following Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School  coaches for the Winter 2024-2025 school sports season as shown on the attached list. 

5.    Coaches – Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School Spring 2025

    Move to approve the following Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School  coaches for the Spring 2025 school sports season as shown on the attached list. 

6.    Reappointment - Tenured Principals/Assistant Principals 

    Move to approve the reappointment of the following tenured Principals/Assistant  Principals for the 2024-2025 school year, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 at the annual salaries as follows:

7.    Reappointment – Tenured Supervisors

    Move to approve the reappointment of the following tenured supervisors for the 2024-2025 school year, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 at the annual salaries as follows: 

8.    Reappointment - Tenured Teachers

    Move to approve the reappointment of the following as tenured teachers for the 2024-2025 school year, as shown on the attachment. 

9.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Ilana Kurtin, Supervisor of Guidance for Metuchen Schools District, effective approximately November 11, 2024 though approximately May 11, 2025.

10.    Appointment- Additional Substitutes

Move to approve the appointment of additional substitutes for the 2023-2024 school

year, effective May 28, 2024, pending completion of substitute training and criminal

history clearance:

11.    Retirement - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Karen Van de Castle, Business & AP Economics Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective June 30, 2024.

----------------------------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 March 31, 2024.

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 May 28, 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 March 31, 2024.

4.    Frontline Technology Group

    Move to approve contracts with Frontline Technologies Group LLC for the 2024-2025 school year based on the attached spreadsheet for a total of $50,662.53.

5. Professional Development

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

6.    Metuchen Board of Education Notice of Contract Award

The Board of Education of the Borough of Metuchen in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey (the “Board”) has awarded a contract on May 14, 2024, to Util Auditors, LLC Boca Raton, FL for RFP No. CC 24-02-A Utility Services Audit for a period through August 31, 2024, in the amount of 35% cost recovery fee and 35% cost reduction fee. Awarded as a Competitive Contracting. The resolution and contract are on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the Board Secretary.

7.    Resolution - Food Service

    Be it resolved that the Metuchen Board of Education “SFA” approves the renewal of the Food Service Management contract with The Pomptonian, Inc. “FSMC” for the food service operation for 2024-2025.  

1.    FSMC Fee:

The FSMC shall receive, in addition to the costs of operation, an administrative/management fee of $32,957.00 to compensate the FSMC for administrative and management costs.  This fee shall be included as a cost of operation and billed in 10 monthly installments of $3,295.70 per month.  The SFA guarantees the payment of such costs and fee to the FSMC. 

2.    There is no guaranteed financial performance

3.    Total Estimated Cost of Contract:

Total estimated expenses (cost) include food, labor, supplies, other expenses, and FSMC management fee.

The Total Estimated Cost of Contract is $822,911.34.

8.    Resolution - Insurance Brokerage Service

    The Board of Education in the Borough of Metuchen in the County of Middlesex awarded a Health  Insurance brokerage service contract as an extraordinary unspecifiable service to Brown and Brown for $6,000 per month  for the 2024-2025 school year. 

9.    Resolution - Insurance Broker

    The Board of Education in the Borough of Metuchen in the County of Middlesex awarded a Property and Casualty brokerage service contract as an extraordinary unspecifiable service to Schenck agency for the 2024-2025 school year.   THE CONSULTANT IS TO BE PAID A COMMISSION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

10.    Transportation Agreements

    Move to approve the transportation agreements for students, 20341125, 2020006, 20281109, and 2029030.

11.    Resolution

Move to approve Colonial Life to provide short term disability plans as additional voluntary benefits with the Metuchen School District. 

12.    Settlement Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement of student # 2026127.

13.    Appointment- Clinical, Therapeutic, Counseling and Behavioral Services

    Move to approve the appointment of the following to provide counseling, therapeutic and behavioral services for the 2024-2025 school year:

• Rutgers UBHC-  to provide Therapeutic Mental Health Services for an annual contract of $319,200

14.    AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF GRANT AGREEMENTS 

    Move to approve the authorization, execution and delivery of the following grant agreements:

Metuchen Boro School District / Middlesex County

Campbell E.S.

Project Description: HVAC System Upgrades

DOE Project #: 3120-060-23-R503

SDA Project #: 3120-060-23-G5MK

Grant #: G5-6726

Total Project Costs: $137,800

Grant Amount: $55,120

Metuchen Boro School District / Middlesex County

Edgar M.S.

Project Description: HVAC System Upgrades

DOE Project #: 3120-070-23-R502

SDA Project #: 3120-070-23-G5ML

Grant #: G5-6727

Total Project Costs: $352,300

Grant Amount: $140,920

Metuchen Boro School District / Middlesex County

Metuchen H.S.

Project Description: HVAC System Upgrades

DOE Project #: 3120-050-23-R501

SDA Project #: 3120-050-23-G5MJ

Grant #: G5-6725

Total Project Costs: $452,400

Grant Amount: $180,960

15.    DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR FOR SUPERVISION OF THE SCHOOL FACILITIES PROJECTS

    Move to approve the delegation of authority to school business administrator for supervision of the following school facilities projects:

Metuchen Boro School District / Middlesex County

Campbell E.S.

Project Description: HVAC System Upgrades

DOE Project #: 3120-060-23-R503

SDA Project #: 3120-060-23-G5MK

Grant #: G5-6726

Total Project Costs: $137,800

Grant Amount: $55,120

Metuchen Boro School District / Middlesex County

Edgar M.S..

Project Description: HVAC System Upgrades

DOE Project #: 3120-070-23-R502

SDA Project #: 3120-070-23-G5ML

Grant #: G5-6727

Total Project Costs: $352,300

Grant Amount: $140,920

Metuchen Boro School District / Middlesex County

Metuchen H.S.

Project Description: HVAC System Upgrades

DOE Project #: 3120-050-23-R501

SDA Project #: 3120-050-23-G5MJ

Grant #: G5-6725

Total Project Costs: $452,400

Grant Amount: $180,960

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case.

• EMS042924001

• EMS043024001

2.    Suspensions

The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for May 10, 2024 - May 24, 2024. 

3.    Representative to the ESCNJ Board of Directors

Pursuant to enacted legislation, P.L. 192-1989, Chapter 254, the Metuchen Board of Education elected Dr. Vincent Caputo to the Representative Assembly of The Educational Services Commission of New Jersey at their meeting held on May 28, 2024 from June 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025.

 ----------------------------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.    Curriculum Map

    Move to approve the following staff members to create Curriculum Maps for up to 10 hours at the current contractual hourly rate of $50/hour for the subject and grade levels indicated below: 

3.    Textbook Disposal

    Move to approve the disposal of the following textbooks as per the guidelines outlined in the district’s policy on Disposition of Property:

4.    Curriculum Writers - Revision

    Move to rescind and approve the following curriculum writers and amounts for the 2023-2024 school year: (Agenda 4/9/24, Section 13, D3):

5.    ESL Writers

    Move to rescind and approve the following curriculum writers and amounts for the 2023-2024 school year: (Agenda 6/13/23, Section 13, D3):

6.    New Textbook

    Move to approve the new textbook CALCULUS 12e for the class course, Honors Calculus. 

7.    In-Service Trainers

    Move to approve the following certified staff to provide Professional Development for the In-service day on May 24, 2024, to be paid from ESSER grant funds at the rate of $49/hour:

8.    Curriculum Writers 2024-2025

    Move to approve the following curriculum writers and amounts for the 2024-2025 school year: 

9.    Varsity Tutors

    Move to approve Varsity Tutors for Schools, LLC, for the contracted tutoring services for 2023-2024 school year, to be paid using ESSER III funds not to exceed $94,020.

10.    Curriculum Writers - Revision

    Move to rescind and approve the following curriculum writers and amounts for the 2023-2024 school year (Agenda 4/9/24, Section 13, D2):

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