THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
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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Mr. Bhatt
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Ms. Killean
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Ms. Cook
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Mr. Lifton
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Mr. Derflinger
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Ms. Shrestha
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Mr. Glassberg
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Dr. Spigner
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Dr. Johnson-Marcus
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Mr. Suss
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Showcase of Success
❖ Introduction of New Teachers
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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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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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September 10, 2024
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Special Business Meeting (1)
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September 10, 2024
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Special Business Meeting (2)
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September 10, 2024
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Board Meeting
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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)
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.
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PERSONNEL
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
1. Instructional Stipend - Rescind
Move to rescind the following instructional stipend for the 2024-2025
school year as listed (Agenda 08/13/2024, Section 13, A2):
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Name
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Position
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Stipend
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Rescind:
Ryan Clapp
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MHS Science - Honors Health Science
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$8,727
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2. Supplemental Instruction
Move to approve the following staff to provide supplemental instruction as needed at the rate of $50/hour for the 2024-2025 school year (IDEA grant funded):
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Lauren Thompson
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Veronica Araneo
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Beth McLaughlin
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3. Mentor Training Makeup 2024-2025 SY
Move to approve the following mentor to attend the makeup mentor training, for 1 hour at the rate of $50/hour:
4. Parent Academy Workshop 2024-2025 SY
Move to approve the following staff to facilitate a Parent Academy workshop on From Research to Practice: An Introduction to our K-5 Curriculum at a rate of $50 per hour, not to exceed 3.5 hours each:
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Sandy Vorensky
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Megan Jeney
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Kristina Bormann
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5. Appointment - Paraprofessional
Move to approve the appointment of Cal Harkness, 0.6 Paraprofessional at Edgar School, for the 2024-2025 school year, at a salary of $14,217/year, effective September 25, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
6. Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff
Move to approve the leave of absence of Aubree Deminski, Special Education Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective August 28, 2024 through approximately September 30, 2024.
7. Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff
Move to approve the leave of absence of Danielle Kennedy, Math Teacher at Edgar School, effective September 5, 2024 through approximately October 15, 2024.
8. Appointment of Substitutes
Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2024-2025 school year on the attached chart effective September 13, 2024, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance.
9. Volunteer Club
Move to approve the following Volunteer Club for the 2024-2025 school year as listed:
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Edgar Middle School
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Club
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Advisor
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Dungeons and Dragons Club
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Andrew Southern
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----------------------------end of personnel section--------------------------
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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 July 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 September 24, 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. Transfer From Capital Reserve for HVAC Projects
Move to approve the transfer of $565,500 from capital reserve to fund SDA project #s 3120-060-23-G5MK , 3120- 070 -23-G5ML , and 3120-050-23-G5-6725 as per agenda# 14 at the BOE meeting of May 28, 2024.
4. Transportation Agreement
Move to approve the transportation agreement for student # 20331644.
5. Rescind - Out of District Placement 2024-2025 School Year
Move to rescind the following 2024-2025 school year out of district student placement (Agenda 8/27/2024, Section 13, A6):
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ID#
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School
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Total
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20341125
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Rutgers Day School
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$83,100.00
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6. Out of District Placement 2024-2025 School Year
Move to approve the following 2024-2025 school year out of district student placement:
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ID#
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School
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Total
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20331644
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Bright Beginnings Learning Center
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$57,876.00
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7. Professional Development
Move to approve the following professional development activities as shown on the attachment.
8. Leonard Behavioral Consulting Services
Move to approve the use of ESSER funds during the 2024-2025 school year to partially fund the following services: Leonard Behavioral Consulting Services, not to exceed $2,000 of ESSER funds.
----------------------------end of finance section--------------------------
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POLICY
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
Nothing at this time
----------------------------end of policy section--------------------------
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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:
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School
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Destination
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Class/Group/
Purpose
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Teachers/
Advisors
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Date(s)
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No. Of Students
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Board Cost- Transportation
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Number of
Subs Needed.
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MHS
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Von Thun Farms
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Grades 6-12; This is our annual farm trip to learn about farming & agriculture, animals and to pick pumpkins CRP1 Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee CRP2 Apply appropriate academic and technical skills CRP5 Consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of decisions
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Dawn Valovcin, Christina Dybas, Alexis Wolford, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio, Brendan McCunney
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10/4/
2024
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8
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$80
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no subs needed
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MHS
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Met Opera
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Grades 9-12; Professional working rehearsal at world class opera house. This is a Spanish 21c opera about the poet Lorca and we are collaborating with the AP Spanish Lit class. Evidence of District Goal Focus Area #1: collaboration and focus on interdisciplinary connections
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Stefeny Krombholz, Karin Flores
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10/11/
2024
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27
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$0
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2 subs needed
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EMS & MHS
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BJ's
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Grades 6-12; this is a trip to BJ's to purchase items for the school coffee cart CRP1 Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee CRP2 Apply appropriate academic and technical skills CRP4 Communicate clearly and effectively and with reason CRP8 Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
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Dawn Valovcin, Christina Dybas, Alexis Wolford, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio, Brendan McCunney
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10/11/
2024
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8
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$80
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no subs needed
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CES
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Borough Hall
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Grade 2; For the past several years, the second grade students have visited Borough Hall to meet with the Mayor, Police Dept, Rec. Dept, DPW, and the various other community organizations it houses. This well received, and valuable field trip aligns seamlessly with our curriculum study on Metuchen; and it's people who help our local community run successfully. As a follow-up activity, the students will write a letter of appreciation to our guests, highlighting new information they learned from their visit.
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Entire 2nd Grade staff
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10/17/
2024
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155
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$40
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no subs needed
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CES
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Giamarese Farm & Orchards
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Grades 1-8; Community based instruction to Giamarese Farm to generalize social emotional/behavioral goals, engaging socially with peers, awareness in the community, and communication goals. 0.1.2 Express ideas for activities and initiate discussions. 0.1.4 Discuss their own actions and efforts. 0.4.5 Express needs verbally or nonverbally to teacher and peers without being aggressive.
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Brian Jeney, Abeera Omarzai, Dorothea Parker, Kinjal Vakharia, Michelle Duggan, Gunisha Chadha, Samantha Murphy, Laura Petty, Kelly Vissichelli, Debbie DeCerbo, Francesca Ghezzo, Suzette Brown, Emily Bianchi, Isabella Massaro, Lori Anne Diserio, Alexis Wolford, Brendan McCunney
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10/18/
2024
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16
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$70
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no subs needed
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MHS
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Woodbridge Center
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Grades 10-12; Students will work on our restaurant skills at Red Robin CRP1 Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee CRP2 Apply appropriate academic and technical skills CRP4 Communicate clearly and effectively and with reason CRP8 Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
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Dawn Valovcin, Christina Dybas, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio
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10/18/
2024
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5
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$80
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no subs needed
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CES
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Von Thun Farms
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Grade 1; Students will understand that living things grow and change over time. SW understand what living things need to survive SW observe plants at different stages of their life cycle SW read Spookley the Square Pumpkin throughout a corn maze and develop an understand and awareness of bullying and its effect
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Palmieri, Conzo, Evans, Cadel, Jackson, Barnes, Tocci, Pata, Shapiro (sub), Anderson)
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10/23/
2024
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168
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$0
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no subs needed
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Moss
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Giamarese Farm & Orchards
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Grade K; Students will engage in community instruction to Giamarese Farms & Orchards to learn and generalize social/emotional/behavioral goals, communication goals, in addition to expanding upon their prior learning to support their experiences and reflection of their experience.
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Lori-Anne DiSerio, Karen Calentoni, Dana Donatelli, Kaitlyn Kodersha, Emily Peluso, Caroline Mandel, Vanessa Beibide, Shannon MacMenamie, Sandy Iacona, Laura Hermans, Lauren Corrigan, Neha Jansari, Farhana Khan, Christina Garison
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10/25/
2024
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9
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$120
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no subs needed
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MHS
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Michaels
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Grades 10-12; This trip is to Michaels to buy supplies to make our Thankful feast invitations CRP1 Act as a responsible and contributing citizen CRP2 Apply appropriate academic and technical skills CRP3 Attend to personal health and financial wellbeing CRP4 Communicate clearly and effectively and with reason CRP6 Demonstrate creativity and innovation CRP8 Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
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Dawn Valovcin, Christina Dybas, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio
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10/25/
2024
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5
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$80
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no subs needed
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MHS
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Campbell Elementary School
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9-12 Grades; MHS Orchestra students perform music for the Campbell Halloween Parade. MHS upperclassmen in orchestra get experience conducting the orchestra and lead other students in the morning rehearsals leading up to the parade.
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Christopher McEwan; Jordyn Gallagher
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10/31/
2024
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60
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$120 for 2 big busses and $165 truck rental
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1 sub needed
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MHS
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Costco
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Grades 10-12;this trip is buy the bulk items for the thankful feast CRP1 Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee CRP2 Apply appropriate academic and technical skills CRP4 Communicate clearly and effectively and with reason
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Dawn Valovcin, Christina Dybas, Michelle Schutz, Joseph Dimeglio
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11/1/
2024
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5
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$80
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no subs needed
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MHS
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Wegmans
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Grades 9-12;This trip is to buy the perishable items for our feast CRP1 Act as a responsible and contributing citizen CRP2 Apply appropriate academic and technical skills CRP3 Attend to personal health and financial wellbeing CRP4 Communicate clearly and effectively and with reason CRP5 Consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of decisions CRP8 Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
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Dawn Valovcin, Christina Dybas, Alexis Wolford, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio, Brendan McCunney
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11/15/
2024
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5
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$80
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no subs needed
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CES
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Library
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Grades 1-4; Community based instruction to The Metuchen Library to generalize social emotional/behavioral goals, engaging socially with peers, awareness in the community, and communication goals. 0.1.2 Express ideas for activities and initiate discussions. 0.1.4 Discuss their own actions and efforts. 0.4.5 Express needs verbally or nonverbally to teacher and peers without being aggressive
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Brian Jeney, Abeera Omarzai, Dorothea Parker, Kinjal Vakharia, Michelle Duggan, Gunisha Chadha, Samantha Murphy, Laura Petty, Kelly Vissichelli, Debbie De Cerbo, Francesca Ghezzo, Suzette Brown, Emily Bianchi, Isabella Massaro, Lori Anne Diserio
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11/15/
2024
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13
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$0
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no subs needed
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EMS
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CBI trip to Metuchen Library
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Grades 6 & 8; Student's will be going to Metuchen Library to practice Library skills and selecting a book for a research project.
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Alexis Wolford,Brendan McCunney
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11/15/
2024
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3
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$40
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0
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MHS
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9/11 Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Water for Elephants
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Grades11-12; This trip will show the impact of 9/11 on our country and retrospective of European Art.
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Beth Abbott, Mark Mooney,Evan Robbins, Danielle Cermak
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11/22/
2024
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43
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$0
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4 subs needed
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CES
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Post Office & Tiny Town
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Grades 1-4; Community based instruction to The Post Office & Tiny Town to generalize social emotional/behavioral goals, engaging socially with peers, awareness in the community, and communication goals. 0.1.2 Express ideas for activities and initiate discussions. 0.1.4 Discuss their own actions and efforts. 0.4.5 Express needs verbally or nonverbally to teacher and peers without being aggressive
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Brian Jeney, Abeera Omarzai, Dorothea Parker, Kinjal Vakharia, Michelle Duggan, Gunisha Chadha, Samantha Murphy, Laura Petty, Kelly Vissichelli, Debbie De Cerbo, Francesca Ghezzo, Suzette Brown, Emily Bianchi, Isabella Massaro, Lori Anne Diserio
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11/22/
2024
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13
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$0
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no subs needed
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EMS
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Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School
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Grade 7; This trip is for the 7th grade G & T class to present their research findings, prototypes and designs in front of judges in the morning. The afternoon will be spent with students competing against 23 other teams in the robotics portion of the competition. The robots and their attachments have been designed, built and programmed by the students to go through an "obstacle course" and complete as many of the missions as possible within the time allotted.
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Ed Ronk and Ashley Jaye
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11/23/
2024
(Saturday)
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23
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$375
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no subs needed
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MHS
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David Geffen Hall
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9-12 Grade; Students will attend a performance of Stravinsky's masterwork, "The Firebird" by the New York Philharmonic. Students will learn about and study the music in class leading up to this performance, and will learn about the context of the music. Afterwards we will speak with MHS alumnus and assistant principal violist Rebecca Young about life as a professional musician.
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Christopher McEwan, John Messenger, Jordyn Gallagher, Ashley Jaye
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3/6/2025
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37
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$0
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no subs needed
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CES
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Turtle Back Zoo
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Grade 2; NJ learning standard 2-LS4.1 "Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats"
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Melissa Gallo, Amanda Ludwig, Lisa Levin, Jennifer Spak, Vincent Signorile, Jennifer Doherty, Christina Spring, Ashley Pietrowski, Becky Smith, Rob Strauss
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5/9/2025
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156
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$0
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No subs needed
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2. Curriculum Guides
Move to approve the implementation of the following revised curriculum guides:
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Curriculum Guides
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Subject/Course
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Grade
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Honors Computer Programming in Java
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9-12
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Data Analysis & Discrete Math (Previously Discrete Math)
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12
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Introduction to Statistics (Previously Math Investigations)
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12
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English Language Arts
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K
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English Language Arts
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6
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Computer Science 5
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5
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Computer Science 6
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6
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German 7
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7
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German 8
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8
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German 2
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9-12
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German 3
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9-12
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German 4 Honors
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9-12
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Genocide After WWII
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10-12
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French 7
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7
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Robotics
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9-12
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Science K
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K
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Science 1
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1
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Science 2
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2
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Science 3
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3
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Science 4
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4
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Science 5
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5
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3. Curriculum Maps - Correction
Move to approve the following staff members to create Curriculum Maps for the 2024-2025 school year for up to 10 hours at the rate of $50/hour for the subject and grade levels indicated below (Agenda 5/28/24, Section 13, D2):
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Name
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Grade
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Subject
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Approve:
Nick Vosinas
Kelly Murphy
Stepheny Stofa-Krombholz
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9-12
9-12
9-12
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Spanish 5
Honors Art 4
Music Foundation/Music Theater
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----------------------------end of curriculum section--------------------------
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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
