THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 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 Criterion Sentinel, The Star Ledger, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

❖ Introduction of New Teachers

❖ New Student Representative - Prisha Shrestha

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 Revision - Certificated Staff

Move to approve the revised dates of the leave of absence of Samantha Murphy, Special Education Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately September 16, 2024 through approximately February 14, 2025 (Agenda 4/24/2024, Section 13, A1). 

2.    Revised Dates - Leave Replacement 

    Move to approve the revised dates for Laura Petty, Leave Replacement for Samantha Murphy, Special Education Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately September 12, 2024 through approximately February 18, 2025, at a rate of $311.76/day, pending NJ certification.

3.    Leave of Absence - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Suzette Brown, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective August 26, 2024 through approximately October 15, 2024.

4.    Formal Mentor Teacher

    Move to approve the following formal mentor teacher to work with the following mentee teacher for the 2024 – 2025 school year: 

5.    Edgar School Robotics

Move to approve the following as volunteer coaches for the Robotics Team at Edgar School for the 2024-2025 school year, pending criminal history clearance:

6.    Metuchen High School Volunteer Clubs- Rescind and Approve

Move to rescind and approve the following Metuchen High School volunteer clubs for the 2024-2025 school year as listed (Agenda 08/27/2024, Section 13, A3):

7.    Metuchen High School Club Advisor

    Move to approve the following co-curricular stipend for the 2024-2025 school year as listed (Agenda 8/27/2024, Section 13, A2):

8.    Interim Guidance Supervisor 

    Move to approve the appointment of Heather Mills-Pevonis, Interim Guidance Supervisor for Ilana Kurtin, Supervisor of Guidance, effective approximately October 31, 2024 through approximately May 13, 2025, or earlier if needed, at a per diem rate of $500/day.

9.    Supplemental Instruction

    Move to approve Ann Leghorn-Orapallo to provide Supplemental Instruction as needed for the 2024-2025 school year at the rate of $50/hour (IDEA Grant Funded).

10.    Salary Adjustment - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve a change in base salary for Danielle Cermak, Spanish Teacher at Metuchen High School, from Step 3L, $86,625/year, to Step 4L, $88,688/year, as a result of her earning 30 credits beyond her Master's Degree (Master's +30), effective October 1, 2024. 

11.    Mentor Teacher Training

Move to approve the following mentor to attend mentor training, for 1 hour at the rate of $50/hour:

12.    New Teacher Academy Presenters

    Move to approve Ann Burnett and Amanda Shorr as presenters on co-teaching strategies for the New Teacher Academy workshop series for the 2024-2025 school year, at a rate of $50/hour, not to exceed 4 hours each.

13.    Metuchen High School Summer Institute

    Move to rescind and approve the following teachers for additional guidance and support to students preparing for college admissions through summer institute; as well as for pre-advanced placement instruction (Agenda 6/25/2024, Section 13, A1):

14.    Appointment of Substitutes

Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2024-2025 school year on the attached chart effective September 5, 2024, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance.

15.    Leave Replacement - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve the appointment of Lisa Parr, Leave Replacement for Adrianna Reyes, ESL Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately November 21, 2024 through approximately April 24, 2025, at a rate of $311.76/day.

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Nonpublic Technology Aid

Move to approve the following nonpublic technology aid for the 2024-2025 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:

2.    Nonpublic Security Aid    

Move to approve the following nonpublic security aid for the 2024-2025 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:

3.    Settlement Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement of student # 2030057.

4.    Out of District Placement

    Move to approve the placement of student #2030057 for the 2024-2025 school year at Newgrange School for the total tuition of $67,999.04/year.

5.  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 September 10, 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.

6.    Professional Development

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

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Appointment - Student Board of Education Member Representative

    Move to approve Prisha Shrestha as the Metuchen High School Student Board of Education Representative for the 2024-2025 school year.

----------------------------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.    Textbook Disposal

    Move to approve the disposal of the following textbooks from Metuchen High School:

3.    Curriculum Guide

    Move to approve the implementation of the following revised curriculum guides: 

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